Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary

The Gauhati High Court recently directed the Assam Government to respond to a petition alleging that the Forest Department had issued an e-tender for the felling of trees within the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary without obtaining the mandatory forest clearance from the Central Government.

About Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary

The Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the eastern fringe of Guwahati city in Assam. The sanctuary was created by merging three reserve forests, namely the South Amchang Reserve Forest, Amchang Reserve Forest, and Khanapara Reserve Forest.

Geographically, the sanctuary extends from the mighty Brahmaputra River in the north to the forested hills of Meghalaya in the south. This creates a continuous forest corridor connecting with Meghalaya’s Maradakdola Reserve Forests, thereby enhancing ecological connectivity and wildlife movement.

Vegetation

The sanctuary supports diverse forest ecosystems and is characterized by a mixture of important forest types. These include Khasi Hill Sal Forests, East Himalayan Mixed Deciduous Forests, Eastern Alluvial Secondary Semi-Evergreen Forests, and East Himalayan Sal Forests.

Flora

The forests of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary are dominated by several valuable tree species. Important flora found here include teak, white iris, axle wood, terminalia, wild java plum, elephant rope tree, beechwood, bitter champa, black dammer tree, cluster fig, and arjun trees.

Fauna

Among the mammals found in the sanctuary are Asian elephants, leopards, fishing cats, Asian palm civets, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, barking deer, porcupines, mongooses, wild pigs, rabbits, flying squirrels, and otters.

Importance of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary plays a crucial role in the conservation of biodiversity, protection of elephant habitats, and maintenance of an important forest corridor between Assam and Meghalaya.