Introduction
The Forests & Environment Department forms the policy for the conservation of the forest, protection of the Wildlife and the Environment in the State of Gujarat. There are 4 National parks, 23 sanctuaries, 1 conservation reserve. Gujarat has only 11.04%
of its geographical area declared as forest, which is much below the national average. Forest and tree cover is in the extent of 11.74 % (7.48 % forest cover and 4.26% tree cover outside forest TOF) of its geographical area. The unique features of the state
are the climatic and geomorphologic conditions viz the largest coastline in the country, the saline deserts of Rann , grasslands, wetlands. These factors have bestowed the state with the diversity of flora and fauna. The majestic Asiatic lion and wild ass
have their last resorts of the world in Gujarat. The faunal biodiversity consists of 14% fishes, 18 % reptiles, 37% avi fauna and 25% of the mammal populations of the country.
The Forests & Environment Department in the Government of Gujarat has environment wing and forest wing. The environment wing of the Department is the apex body in the Gujarat State for implementation of all the environment related matters including Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986, which is an umbrella Act on environment in the country. The main mandate of the Department is to achieve the sustainable development in the State and introducing the sound environmental management practices. The Department has four
executing agencies viz Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Ecology Commission, Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology and Gujarat Environmental Management Institute, for discharging its functions.
