The Punjab Forest Department has reclaimed close to eight hundred acres of forest land in Lal Sohanra National Park through an operation that relied heavily on Geographic Information System technology to guide teams across remote and difficult terrain. The land had remained under illegal occupation for almost forty years and its recovery marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to protect the province’s forest resources. Officials shared that this operation was supervised in real time by a senior provincial minister who monitored the field teams and their progress through digital mapping tools. The use of GIS allowed authorities to identify access routes, track field movement, and plan the required steps for reclaiming the occupied sections of the park.
GIS lab experts played a central role in mapping rugged hills, outlining encroached zones, and supporting field personnel as heavy machinery and ground staff worked across the national park. The operation brought together forest officers, guards, block officers, technical specialists, and labour teams to coordinate tasks ranging from terrain assessment to on site reclamation. According to the Forest Department, the integration of GIS tools strengthened the accuracy of the operation by showing boundaries, ecological zones, and encroachments in real time. This approach allowed teams to move quickly through isolated areas where manual surveying would have taken significantly longer. A spokesperson for the department described the effort as an important milestone for wildlife and environmental restoration, emphasising that conservation of natural resources remains a priority.
Officials stated that the reclaimed land covers ecologically sensitive areas that will now be restored to support wildlife habitats and help improve the environmental conditions of Lal Sohanra National Park. The recovered zones include regions that had been inaccessible without the support of digital mapping and advanced location based planning. Coordination between technical units and field forces ensured that staff could safely enter remote pockets of the park and carry out the necessary reclamation activities. The Forest Department added that operations addressing long term encroachments are continuing across Punjab as part of a wider strategy to protect state owned land. The spokesperson noted that decisive actions against land occupying groups remain active, supported increasingly by digital tools that enhance accuracy and oversight.
The Punjab government has highlighted that managing natural resources is an ongoing commitment and technology driven monitoring has become an essential component of forest protection. With the reclaimed land now under the Forest Department’s control, officials plan to implement conservation measures, strengthen boundaries, and prevent future encroachments. Continuous digital observation, supported by GIS infrastructure, is expected to help the department detect irregular activities more efficiently. The Lal Sohanra operation demonstrates how digital mapping technologies can support environmental management by giving authorities better visibility across large landscapes. As monitoring continues, the department aims to apply similar methods in other forest regions to safeguard protected areas and maintain the province’s natural ecosystems.
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