State’s forest cover has grown steadily in past 2 decades: CM

The forest cover has increased steadily over the last two decades in Himachal. According to the bi-annual assessments by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the state’s total forest cover has grown by 1,227.35 sq. km, rising from 14,353 sq km in 2003 to 15,580.4 sq km in 2023, marking increase from 25.73 to 28 per cent of the state’s total geographical area.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state’s progress demonstrates how policy commitment, scientific forest management and people’s participation can jointly deliver ecological resilience and economic benefits. “The state’s evolving focus on climate-resilient ecosystems, integrated landscape management, and biodiversity conservation continues to align with India’s national commitments under the Paris agreement and the Green India Mission,” he said.

He further said the state’s achievement stems from the effective implementation of large-scale plantation drives, adoption of community-based management schemes and the active participation of local communities, self-help groups and forest cooperatives in conservation activities. He said the participation with Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, Self Help Groups and other registered community-based organizations had contributed immensely towards the afforestation drives, thereby leading to the increase in forest cover. “The government’s emphasis on native species restoration, improved nursery practices and watershed-based land management has further enhanced vegetation density and biodiversity across the state’s diverse ecological zones,” Sukhu said.