Changa Manga Forest

Changa Manga Forest :

                                        The Changa Manga (Urdu,Punjabi): چھانگا مانگا) is a planted forest which includes a  wildlife preserver, it is situated in the  Kasur and in  Lahore districts of the Punjab, Pakistan. It is located approximately 80 kilometers in south-west of Lahore. It is one of the largest man-made forest in the world but has undergone illegal deforestation for its fine wood at a massive scale in recent times.

            Changa Manga is very famous an known as "one of the oldest hand-planted forests in the world", and hosts a wide variety of Flora and Fauna. The forest is known as the home of 14 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, six species of reptiles, two species of amphibians and 27 species of insects. Thus, other than producing timber for the local industry, the forest also serves  an important role for wildlife reserve.

             It was named after two  Brother Dacotis, the Changa Manga forest was originally planted in 1866 by British foresters. Its trees were harvested to gain more fuel and resources for the engines which are working in the North-Western railway networks.

Wildlife conservation and breeding:

                                                                                             The forest plays an important role as a conservation and breeding centre for the critically endangered species of Asiatic vultures, gyps bengalensis(white-rumped vultures). It hosts a conservation and breeding centre in association with WWF SAVE (Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction) programme, an international effort across India, Nepal and Pakistan. The Asiatic vulture species of G. bengalensis and G. indicus have reportedly seen a reduced by "more than 90% in Pakistan, India and Nepal", in this case making the conservation efforts at Changa Manga extremely crucial for the survival of these vulture species. 

Changa Manga has a conservation and breeding centre for the Gyps bengalensis (white-rumped vultures) which are a critically endangered species of Asiatic vultures.

Recreation:

                         Some parts of the forest have now been developed and converted into a recreation park for visitors and tourists with a railroad that gives the visitor a 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) ride on a miniature train which passes through the forest. Some Other attractions include a water turbine, a waterfall, a children’s play area, and a lake called 'Lunar Lake', where boating is possible and allowed. Changa Manga Tourist Resort is situated 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Lahore city. The  Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) give permission for arranging  picnic trips to Changa Manga throughout the year.

Deforestation:

                               The world’s largest artificial forest is being heavily logged, and so far more than 60 percent of Changa Manga Wildlife Park has been deforestedits main reason is rapidly increasing needs of wood.