HT Digital,
Lakhimpur, Nov 14: Poba Forest on the Assam–Arunachal border is facing a growing threat as nearly 2,000 hectares of land have fallen under encroachment, while large stretches continue to be eaten away by river erosion. The dense forest, spread across 257.29 square kilometres in Jonai under Dhemaji district, remains without official recognition as a wildlife sanctuary despite an announcement made on August 2024 by the then Forest and Environment Minister Chandramohan Patowary, who had assured that a notification would be issued soon.
As of November 14, Poba is yet to receive sanctuary status, leaving the area vulnerable to rapid settlement expansion. Locals have built homes, cleared forest patches and taken up farming inside the area, creating a serious threat to its survival. Environmental groups say the delay in granting official protection is encouraging more people to occupy forest land with ease.
Related Posts:
Poba’s biodiversity is one of the richest in the region, with over 25 species of reptiles, 45 species of birds and 12 varieties of orchids thriving in its deep green cover. The forest is also home to around eighty wild elephants, which often migrate from the nearby D’ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. Its rivers and wetlands support more than 30 species of fish, while four kinds of waterbirds nest across the waterways.
Receiving over 2,500 millimetres of annual rainfall, locals call Poba a “rainforest”, though it has not been officially listed as one in government records. The habitat also shelters hornbills, including the Asian Hornbill, adding to its ecological importance.
Residents and conservation groups are now urging the government to immediately declare Poba as a wildlife sanctuary. They demand strict action to clear encroachments, prevent illegal logging, stop erosion and ensure safety for the region’s wildlife before more of the forest disappears.
