Gujarat Reorganises Porbandar Forest Division to Strengthen Barda Lion Relocation Plan

The Gujarat government has restructured the Porbandar Forest Division to strengthen forest management and prepare the Barda region for the relocation of Asiatic lions.

The administrative overhaul is aimed at streamlining governance, improving field-level monitoring and patrolling, and ensuring the smooth implementation of conservation programmes linked to the proposed lion rehabilitation.

The move comes after Asiatic lions naturally returned to the Barda region following an absence of 143 years.

Under the revised framework, responsibilities at the range, beat and officer levels have been clearly defined to improve surveillance and help forest officials respond to human-wildlife conflicts.

Porbandar, Ranavav Ranges Reorganised

The Porbandar Range will cover 6,840.84 hectares across 80 villages. It has been divided into beats including Porbandar City, Gosabara, Mokar, Visavada, Kantela, Madhavpur and Satiya.

The Ranavav Range will cover 13,051.25 hectares and 27 villages, with beats including Godana, Bileshwar, Savdivadar and Ranavav.

A 305.94-hectare forest area covering four villages in Bhanvad taluka has also been transferred from the Jamnagar Forest Division's RFW Bhatia Range to the Bhanvad Range under the Porbandar Forest Division.

The villages included in the transfer are Kandarda Jogana, Sajdiyala, Juna and Jambusar.

More Ranges Brought Under Porbandar Division

Administrative control of the Kutiyana, Porbandar Social Forestry and Ranavav Social Forestry ranges has also been brought under the Porbandar Forest Division.

The restructuring includes the transfer of field infrastructure and resources, including departmental vehicles, firearms, wireless communication sets, office equipment and personnel.

The changes are intended to strengthen grassroots operations across the division as Gujarat prepares to develop Barda as a second home for Asiatic lions.