Question

Which of the following is the first reserve forest of India?
a. Redwood National Park
b. Satpura National Park
c. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
d. None of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: The Reserve forest is also called protected forest denotes some forest areas accorded under a certain degree of protection. The term Reserve forest was introduced by British Raj under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Satpura National Park is the first reserved forest in India.

Complete answer:
Satpura National Park is located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh and another name of this is Satpura Tiger Reserve. The name of the reserved forest is derived from the name of the Satpura range. It was set up in 1981 and it covers almost 524 square Km.

Along with Bori and Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuaries, Satpura Tiger Reserve provides 2,200 square Km of central Indian highland ecosystem. The Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the first forest reserve in India.

Additional information:
Pachmarhi is the nearest town and railhead to the National Park. It is rich in biodiversity and enriched with species include leopard, wild boar, bear, sambar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, blackbuck, fox, Indian muntjac, Indian giant squirrel, Chinkara, etc..,

The common birds found here include hornbills and peafowl. The sightings of tigers, dholes, barasingha, Indian gaur were found in previous years. The flora in the Satpura Reserve forest include sal, teak, mahua, bel, bamboo, grasses, tendu, Phyllanthus Emblica, medicinal plants, etc..,

Pandav caves, Dhoopgarh Peak, Bee Falls, Shri Nagdwar Temple, Denwa Backwaters, Rock paintings are some other attractions of Satpura Tiger Reserve.

Hence, Option (B) is the correct answer.

Note: Jim Corbett National Park, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Bhavnagar Amreli Forest, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Nanmangalam Reserve Forest, Amarambalam Reserve Forest, Vandalur Reserve Forest, Banni Grasslands Reserves, Tikarpada Reserve Forest are some other forest reserves in India.