Punjab’s Forest Department has recovered 1,984.62 acres of forest land from encroachment. The recovered land is valued at around Rs 9.008 billion.

The recovery was carried out over the past two years. The department conducted operations across all three forest zones in Punjab.

The Southern Zone reported the largest share of recovered forest land. Major recoveries were recorded in several districts and forest areas.

These included Lal Suhanra, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot, Multan, and Sheikhupura/Nankana. Other forest divisions also reported smaller recoveries during the period.

Officials said the drive aims to protect forest land from illegal occupation. The department is also focusing on long-term forest restoration.

During the same period, more than 50 million trees were planted. The plantation covered approximately 50,869 acres across Punjab.

Punjab’s Forest Department said its strategy has changed in recent years. The focus has moved beyond simply counting newly planted trees.

Officials said the department now focuses on wider landscape restoration. This approach aims to improve forest areas and protect natural ecosystems.

Technology is also playing a larger role in forest management. The department is using satellite monitoring to track forest land.

It has also developed digital forest inventories for better record keeping. Artificial intelligence-based surveillance is being used to monitor forest assets.

The department has introduced digital systems for detecting and managing forest fires. These systems are designed to improve response times and reduce damage.

Officials said more than 33.74 million trees have been geo-tagged across the province. Geo-tagging helps authorities record tree locations through digital mapping.

Punjab has also developed a digital forest inventory covering 810,000 acres. The inventory provides detailed information about forest areas.

The department has further introduced a GIS Mobile Lab for field operations. Officials describe it as the country’s first such facility.

The lab supports field mapping and real-time data collection. It can help officials gather information directly from forest areas.

Drone surveillance and thermal sensors are also being used. These technologies help monitor forest fires, timber theft, and wildlife threats.

Officials said technology-based fire management has reduced land damage in Murree and Kahuta. The systems are helping authorities monitor risks more closely.

Punjab’s Forest Department has also taken steps to strengthen legal enforcement. The province has approved amendments to the Punjab Forest Act 1927.

The amendments aim to improve action against forest-related crimes. They are also intended to strengthen the protection of forest resources.

The Forest Helpline 1084 is another part of the department’s efforts. The helpline has received more than 10,000 calls since its launch.

The calls provide a channel for reporting forest-related issues. Authorities can use these reports to identify problems and take action.

The department’s recent activities combine land recovery with forest restoration. They also include digital monitoring, fire management, and stronger enforcement.

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The figures show the scale of ongoing efforts to protect and restore Punjab’s forest resources. Punjab’s Forest Department says technology will remain part of this approach.