Changa Manga
| Changa Manga Urdu: چھانگا مانگا |
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Road leading into Changa Manga
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| Geography | |
| Location | Kasur District and Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 31°05′N 73°58′E / 31.083°N 73.967°ECoordinates: 31°05′N 73°58′E / 31.083°N 73.967°E |
| Area | 12,423 acres (5,027 ha) |
| Established | 1866 |
| Governing body | Punjab Forest Department, Government of Punjab, Pakistan |
| Ecology | |
| WWF Classification | Indomalaya ecozone |
| Indicator plants | Dalbergia sissoo (Sheesham), Acacia nilotica (Kikar), Morus alba (White mulberry), Bombax ceiba (Simal). |
| Fauna | 14 mammalian species (including hog deer, jackal, mouflon, nilgai and wild boar), 50 birds (including Indian peafowl, Gyps bengalensis and other Asiatic vultures), six reptiles, two amphibians and 27 insect species. |
The Changa Manga is a planted forest which includes a wildlife preserve, in the Kasur and Lahore districts of Punjab, Pakistan. It is located approximately 80 kilometers south-west of Lahore. It was once the largest man-made forest in the world but has undergone illegal deforestation at a massive scale in recent times.
Changa Manga is known more widely as "one of the oldest hand-planted forests in the world", and hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna. The forest is home to 14 species of mammals, 50 species of birds, six species of reptiles, two species of amphibians and 27 species of insects. Thus, other than producing timber for the local industry, the forest also serves as an important wildlife reserve.
Named after two brother dacoits, the Changa Manga forest was originally planted in 1866 by British foresters. Its trees were harvested to gather fuel and resources for the engines employed in the North-Western railway networks.
The name of the forest is derived from an amalgamation of the names of two brother dacoits (bandits), Changa and Manga. The dacoits were a constant source of terror for the "law-abiding citizens" of the districts in the 19th century as they would "hold up and plunder" any passing trader. The robbers had a den in the "secret heart" of the forest where they sought shelter from the British peacekeepers. The robbers were eventually captured by the police and became the inspiration for the name of the forest site. Soon afterwards, Salvation Army opened up a camp at the forest site as a place for reformation of criminals.
The Changa Manga forest can be entered from a road off the N-5 Highway near Bhai Pheru and Chunian. At present, the forest covers an area of 48.6 square kilometres (12,000 acres). It was once the largest man-made forest in the world but massive deforestation has reduced it to less than half its original size. It is also known as "one of the oldest hand-planted forests in the world".
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Wikipedia