The northwestern state of Punjab (India) encompasses an area of 50, 362 sq. kms with 84% of its land under agriculture and only 3. 52% under forests. The state harbours three major forest regions namely 1) Shivalik (Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur 2) Bir (Patiala) 3) Mand (Amritsar and Kapurthala) in six of its districts that support a variety of wild flora and fauna therein. However, the mounting pressures of urbanization and habitat loss are threatening the wildlife in the forested regions of the state. To conserve the remaining natural ecosystems with the idea of protecting and propagating diversity of life, a network of protected areas has been established not only in nine districts of the state under the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This article is focused on the various basic aspects of protected areas established in the state that includes thirteen wildlife sanctuaries, four conservation reserves and two community reserves in the state.
