Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020.

This Act is enacted to provide for the protection, preservation, conservation and management of ecologically important areas. The Act consists of 34 Sections divided into 5 Chapters: Preliminary; Protected Areas; Management Authorities; Offences and Penalties; Miscellaneous.
The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare an area to be called a protected area, with a specific name from any of the following categories: (a) a national park; (b)a nature reserve; (c) a wildlife sanctuary; (d) a wilderness area; (e) a buffer zone; (f) a wildlife reserve; and (g) a wetland. Purposes of notifying a protected area include: (a) protect biological diversity, its natural landscapes and waterscapes; (b) preserve ecological integrity and conserve biodiversity; (d) protect ecosystem, habitats and species naturally occurring; (e) protect threatened or rare species; (f) protect an area which is vulnerable or ecologically sensitive; (g) ensure sustainable use of natural and biological reserves; (h) rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of endangered and vulnerable species; and (k) promote research on biological diversity conservation.
The Government shall eatablish the Management Board. Functions of the Management Boardinclude: (a) advise the Government on any policy matter relating to this Act; (b) advise on carrying out, implementation and monitoring of the provisions of this Act; (c) approve, monitor and review, as the case may be, the management plan or any other plan or program relating to implementation of this Act for management of a protected area, in such manner as may be prescribed. The management of a protected area shall be performed by the Administrative Department or such entity of the Government. Every management authority shall prepare a management plan for the protected area concerned, and submit it to the Chief Minister for approval. Section 21-23 provide for the restriction on prospecting and mining, dredging and extraction and acts prohibited in every protected area.