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Pakistan is home to many wonderful places. One of
these is the Changa Manga forest. It is believed to be one of the
world’s largest man-planned and man-grown forests. Planted in 1890 by
the then ruling British, its aim was to provide wood fuel for the
railway steam engines.
The forest is located close to Lahore around 70 Kilometers from the city
and covers a massive 48.6 square kilometers, or 12,000 acres.
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Why call it Changa Manga?
The name is based on folklore. There is a story of two brothers called
Changa and Manga who were thieves and used to hide in thick forests to
escape the authorities. Stories of these brothers turned into adventures
that every child in that area knows about.
Location
The Changa Manga forest is located approximately 10 Km east of the
National Highway between Lahore and Sahiwal. Due to its huge area it
falls simultaneously within the Kasur District and Lahore District of
Punjab." |
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Plantation history
The plantation of Changa Manga began in the year 1866. The initial
working plan was developed by Mr. B. Ribbentrop in the years 1871-72 and
the first harvest from the mature forest began in 1881-82. It wasn’t
until 1888 that the British decided to plant Sheesham Wood, or Dalbergia
sissoo, in a large area of the forest.
The Habitat
The forest is an amazing habitat and has various types of trees. The
species of trees found in the forest are Acacia Nilotica (Kikar),
Dalbergia Sissoo (Sheesham), Eucalyptus (Safaidah), Morus Alba (White
Mulberry) and some Populus species. |
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Changa Manga is also a very important place for restocking projects of
Asiatic vultures in Pakistan. The WWF started a restoration program for
Gyps Vulture in 2006 to help conserve and breed endangered species of
Gyps.
Tourist attractions
The forest houses a wildlife park, a water turbine, waterfall, and a
children’s play area. Tourists can also enjoy a train ride through the
forest and boating on the Lunar Lake.
In addition to all of this there is also a Changa Manga Tourist Resort
situated around 80 km from Lahore.
Being Cut Down
The issue of deforestation has however hit Changa Manga hard as well.
The forest is being cut down so quickly that more than 60 percent of the
Changa Manga Wildlife Park has been deforested! |