The vicinity, the beautiful cliff and undulating terrain under the feet, the shroud of emerald greens, the eyes reflecting the glittering sunshine of the rising sun, the ears filled with the humming of birds and gurgling of water racing in meandering live streams, the nose breathing fresh cool air, the energy of nature at its work, where darkness rules in the middle of the day, where the power of logic vanishes to differentiate between reality and imagination, when you lost in infinite in adoring the beauty of nature then you must be in the kingdom of Sal Forest in Saranda
TERRAIN & GEOMORPHOLOGY
Terrain is undulating with lofty peaks between 200 meters and 900 meters. The highest point in this hill range was 927 meters in a series of charming gentle undulations which is now the seat of two massive Iron Ore projects, namely Kiriburu project and Meghahatuburu project.
LANDSCAPE INTEGRITY
The area is a part of Chhotanagpur bio-geographic zone and the landscape merges with forests of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The continuity in forests makes it vast, harbouring a rich plant and animal wealth including a number of endemics and endangered ones. The area is also important in terms of elephant movement providing habitat to the Central Indian elephant population moving between Odisha, part of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh
LIVELIHOOD
The forests of Saranda supports a large number of people especially those from the Ho, Munda, Uraon, Santhal and some primitive tribes community. Almost every households depend upon forests in collecting forest products like honey, mushroom, Mahua flower and seeds , Sal leaves, Ciyal leaves, Medicinal plants ,Forest Wood , Firewood , Poles, Thatching Grass, Kusum and Palas (for Lac production), Green Manure, Tooth Brush, Tamarind and various fruits etc. The number of streams leading to rivers also is the life line of the people in the villages supporting their agricultural activities. The conservation of this area will secure the livelihood of the people.
CULTURAL AND AESTHETIC VALUE
Nearly 80% of the human population of this region belongs to tribal communities of Ho, Munda, Uraon and some primitive tribes. All these tribes have lived with forests for centuries. The rituals, festivals, and their culture is always forest based. They worship trees like Sal and Karam and protect varieties of wildlife as custom. Each and every tribal village has a sacred grove (SARNA) of about 2-5 acres of forests. The region is scenically important locations in the hills and valleys. The Saranda, which is known as land of seven hundred hills is aesthetically important and could be a major source of livelihood through eco-tourism
HYDROLOGICAL VALUE
Drainages system comprising the bulk of the area of this division drains northward into south Koel. The chief rivers from east to west are the Karo, Koina, Lailor, Tentri, Samta, Kalia and Pitidiri. Karo being the largest and perennial drains only a small area in Ghatkuri Block, as it passes through only the fringe of this division. The Koina is by far the most important river of this division. It originates in the extreme south above Bhangaon village on the Bonal border. It flows for about fifty miles through the forests of this division and falls into south Koel at Mohanpur. 304.80 Sq.Km. of reserved forests lies in this catchment area. Millions of people in the villages within and down streams spread in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand and districts of Odisha are benefitted from the rivers originating from the area