Bihar is a state in East India. It is bounded by Uttar Pradesh to the west, Nepal to the north, West Bengal to the east and Jharkhand to the south. About 7% of the state is protected forest area.
Geography
Bihar has notified forest area of 6,764.14 km², which is 7.1 percent of its geographical area.
The sub-Himalayan foothills of the Someshwar and Dun mountain ranges in West Champaran district are clad in a belt of moist deciduous forest. As well as trees, this consists of scrub, grass and reeds. Here the annual rainfall is above 1,600 mm and this promotes luxuriant sal forests (Shorea robusta) in the favoured areas. Bihar has 3,208 km2 (~3.41%) of Protected Forest Area and 76.30 km 2 of Protected Non-Forest Area. Bihar is one of the states that has taken “considerable” steps to implement the “Scheduled Tribes and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006”.
Protected areas
| Name | Districts of Bihar | Type | Size in km2 | Established in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary | Gaya | Wildlife Sanctuary | 259.48 | 1971 |
| Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary | Munger | Wildlife Sanctuary | 681.99 | 1976 |
| Pant Wildlife Sanctuary | Rajgir | Wildlife Sanctuary | 35.84 | 1978 |
| Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary | Kaimur | Wildlife Sanctuary | 1342.22 | 1979 |
| Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary | Begusarai | Wildlife Sanctuary | 67.5 | 1987 |
| Nakti Dam Bird Sanctuary | Jamui | Wildlife Sanctuary | 3.32 | 1987 |
| Nagi Dam Bird Sanctuary | Jamui | Wildlife Sanctuary | 7.91 | 1987 |
| Valmiki National Park | West Champaran | National Park | 335.65 | 1989 |
| Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary | Bhagalpur | Wildlife Sanctuary | 50 | 1990 |
| Barela Jheel Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary | Vaishali | Wildlife Sanctuary | 1.96 | 1997 |
| Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park | Patna | Zoo and Botanic Garden | 0.619 | 1969 |
| Udaypur Wildlife Sanctuary | Champaran | Wildlife Sanctuary | 8.74 | 1978 |
| Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary | West Champaran | Wildlife Sanctuary | 880.78 | 1976 |