Forest cover up by 2,261 sq km in 2 yrs in India

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 13

There has been an increase of 2,261 sq km in the total forest and tree cover of the country in the past two years, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 released on Thursday.

Very satisfying assessment

It is very satisfying to know that tree and forest cover has increased. We are entering the second phase of the Green Mission. The Environment Ministry has taken decisions for increasing forest conservation and people participation. — Bhupender Yadav, Environment Minister

The biennial report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), an assessment of the country’s forest resources, was released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

The total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.9 million hectares, which is 24.62 per cent of the geographical area of the country.

As compared to the assessment of 2019, there is an increase of 2,261 sq km, Yadav said, adding the government’s focus is not just to conserve forests quantitatively but to enrich them qualitatively.

The total tree and forest cover in the country includes an increase of 1,540 sq km of forest cover and 721 sq km of tree cover compared to the 2019 assessment.

The maximum increase in forest cover has been witnessed in Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km) followed by Telangana (632 sq km) and Odisha (537 sq km).

“The gain in forest cover may be attributed to better conservation measures, protection, afforestation activities, tree plantation drives and agroforestry,” the report stated.

Area-wise, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover.

The reports states that 17 states/UTs have more than 33 per cent of the geographical area under forest cover.

Meanwhile, the total carbon stock in country’s forest is estimated to be 7,204 million tonnes — an increase of 79.4 million tonnes compared to the last assessment in 2019, the report states. The annual increase in the carbon stock is 39.7 million tonnes.

The total mangrove cover in the country is 4,992 sq km — an increase of 17 sq km as compared to the 2019 assessment. Top three states showing mangrove cover increase are Odisha (8 sq km) followed by Maharashtra (4 sq km) and Karnataka (3 sq km).

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