Introduction
Divisional Forest Office, Sarpang was established in 1959 and it is the second Division to be instituted after the creation of the Department in 1952. It is located at south central region with a total area of 1221.52 km². It lies between 26°44’N to 26°50’N and 89°51’ E to 90°19’ E. The elevation ranges from 63-3506 masl. Division shares  boundary with three protected areas; Royal Manas National Park (RMNP) in the east, Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS) in the west and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park (JSWNP) in the North. Biological Corridor 3, connecting the above three protected areas falls within the jurisdiction of Division.
Divisional Forest Office, Sarpang is headed by a Chief Forestry Officer. There are three Range Offices (Gelephu, Sarpang & Lhamozhingkha) and a rescue center (Southern Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre at Jigmeling). The center caters to the rescue and rehabilitation of affected/ injured wild animals of the southern region. Currently there are 68 forestry personnel, an Accountant and Sr. Adm. Assistant along with 7 ESP/GSP.
Jurisdiction of the Division:
- Dzongkhags: Sarpang and Dagana.
- Dungkhags: Gelephu and Lhamoy Zingkha
Boundaries:
- East: Royal Manas National Park and Zhemgang Dzongkhag
- West: Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Tsirang and Dagana Dzongkhag
- North: Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, Wangdue and Trongsa Dzongkhag
- South: Indian State of Assam and West Bengal
Flora:
The floral and faunal diversity are attributed to its climatic and topographic variations. As per the survey records of the Department, there are more than 129 families, 428 genera and about 637 species of flowering plants (Phanerogams). Of these, 109 families (384 genera, 528 species) are dicots and 20 families (80 genera and 109 species) are monocots. Therefore, these taxa belong to 180 tree species, 155 shrubs, 72 climbers and 130 herbaceous plants. The flora shows close affinities with the flora of Assam plains and North Bengal, India. The major communities are Acacia spp., Dalbergia spp., Zizyphus spp., Terminalia spp., Shorea spp., Lagerstroemia spp., Tectona spp., etc.
Fauna:
The fauna primarily consists of larger herbivores such as Asiatic elephants, Gaur, Sambar deer, Chital, buffalo, barking deer, wild boar and among the carnivores leopard, wild dogs, etc and many more mammals typically of Indo-Malayan and Himalayan region. Over 150 species of birds, 14 species of reptiles have been recorded so far from the sanctuary.
Functions of the Division
- Protection of the State Forest from illegal activities like timber harvesting, wildlife poaching, and exploitation of other NWFP’s through regular patrolling.
- Sustainable management of the Natural Resources in order to meet the growing demands from the citizens of the country.
- Prevent and suppress forest fires and spread of diseases in natural/plantation forests.
- Render prompt service delivery especially for allocation of forest produce.
- Land inspection and allotment and issuance of Forestry clearances for all developmental activities/private registered lands.
- Implementation of Forest & Nature Conservation Act & Rules.
- Monitoring and evaluation of five year plans and programs of the Division.
Contact Info:
- Email: sarpangforestdivision@gmail.com
- Divisional Forest Office,
- Post box no: 110
- Sarpang-tar, Sarpang
- Telephone: CFO: 06365341 FO: 06 365 122
Sections & Mandates
Administration and Store Section
- As prescribed in the job description by RCSC
Accounts Section:
- As prescribed in the job description by RCSC
Resource Management Section
- Submission of technical reports to the Department in consultation with the Research and Information Section if necessary
- Forestry Clearances for activities listed under FNCR and put forward for approval by CFO/DoFPS/MoAF
- Focal for different forest management regimes like FMUs, CFs, PF, Outside FMU System etc. and watershed
- To provide technical backstopping to the Range Offices and field staffs whenever necessary
Resource Allocation Section
- Process for allotment of Rural House Building Timber in consultation with the Research and Information Section if necessary
- Process approval for removal of trees from private registered lands
- Compilation of monthly progress report from forest check post within Sarpang Division
- Compilation of monthly sawmill progress report
Research and Information Section
- Focal for research related works
- Compilation of all relevant data from the field
- Compiling and analyzing Progress Reports of Range Offices and submission
- Focal for Citizen Service Delivery
Conservation Protection Section
- Ensuring general safety, safe custody and cleanliness of the Arms and ammunitions of the Division
- Issuing necessary arms and required number of bullets for conducting patrolling with approval from the CFO.
- Maintaining proper records of the Arms and ammunitions of the Division of the Division
- Mobilize forestry personnel for Suppression of Forest fires
- Organize patrolling/highway checking to apprehend offenders and monitor illegal activities listed under FNCR and other Rules and Regulations.
- Responding to HWC in coordination with the Range Offices/WCD/DoFPS/whenever necessary
- Keeping record of structures designed to mitigate HWC
- Monitoring Wood Based Industries
Dispatch Section
- As prescribed in the job description by RCSC
