The Supreme Court of India has directed the Jharkhand government to designate Saranda Forest in West Singhbhum district as a wildlife sanctuary, aiming to protect its rare biodiversity, tribal heritage, and fragile ecosystem amid rising mining pressures.

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* SC orders Jharkhand to notify Saranda Forest as a wildlife sanctuary

* Asia’s largest natural Sal forest spans ~820–900 sq km

* Located in West Singhbhum, part of the Chhotanagpur bio-geographic zone

* Habitat for the endangered sal forest tortoise, four-horned antelope, and civet

* Key elephant corridor; sanctuary status to improve scientific management

* Home to the Ho, Munda, and Uraon tribes with deep cultural-forest ties

* Sanctuary tag brings stricter rules under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

* Mining threat high; area holds ~26% of India’s iron ore reserves

* SC shift signals prioritising ecology over unchecked extraction

* Community-led conservation is likely to strengthen protection efforts