Vision
To conserve, develop and manage forest resources on sustainable basis to contribute in the socio-economic development of present and future generations.
Mission
The Punjab Forest Department shall promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the forests of the province.
Environmentally appropriate forest management ensures that the harvest of timber and non-timber products maintains the forest’s biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes.Socially beneficial forest management helps both local people and society at large to enjoy long term benefits and also provides strong incentives to local people to sustain the forest resources.Economically viable management of forests of Punjab so that forest operations are structured and managed for sustainability and profitability without compromising at the expense of the forest resource, the ecosystem and affected communities.
Strategy and Plan
Trees play important role towards environment improvement. To increase the tree cover, 2530 acres plantation is being established under the Chief Minister’s special initiative for mass afforestation in Punjab during 2013-14. The plantation work over an area of 250 acres is nearly completed. The department has also launched spring TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN 2014 during which 12 million saplings will be planted, out of which 7.08 million saplings have already been planted till today. 4296 acres area has been retrieved from the encroachers out of which afforestation on 932 acres area is in progress.To boost up the local inhabitants socially, the department is making efforts to maintain and develop the forests parks on modernized footings to improve the recreation facility. Plan to develop eco-friendly forest park at Murree is one of the initiative of the department.To bridge the gap between the demand and supply of timber and firewood requirements of the inhabitants industrial plantations is being carried out on the blank forest areas as well as on the land retrieved from the illegal occupants. For the purpose of industrial plantation, tree species with short rotation are being planted. They will help to provide the raw material for the wood based industries and to generate the employment opportunities besides adding lot towards enhancement of tree cover.Private investment in forestry under PPP mode is also being encouraged. Plantation over an area of 240 acres with the co-operation of Engro polymer Chemicals (Pvt Ltd) has been carried out at Changa Manga. Initiatives like this will help to bring the barren land under green cover. Financial constraints faced by the government towards tree plantations could be minimized.
