Dehradun/Shimla: India has added 1,445 sq km of forest and tree cover since 2021.
This was revealed in the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR). The report was released in Dehradun by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
The total forest and tree cover in India now stands at 8,27,357 sq km. This is 25.17% of the country’s geographical area. It includes 7,15,343 sq km of forest cover (21.76%) and 1,12,014 sq km of tree cover (3.41%).
Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a slight rise in its forest cover. It now stands at 15,433 sq km, which is 27.65% of its geographical area.
Uttarakhand, however, shows no major gains. Its forest cover remains at 24,305 sq km, accounting for 45.44% of its land area.
Other states have shown better results. Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan lead in increasing forest and tree cover.
Mizoram has gained 242 sq km of forest cover. Gujarat has added 180 sq km, and Odisha 152 sq km. Chhattisgarh recorded the highest overall increase with 684 sq km.
Madhya Pradesh continues to have the largest forest area. It has 77,073 sq km of forest cover. Arunachal Pradesh follows with 65,882 sq km. Chhattisgarh is third with 55,812 sq km.
In terms of percentage forest cover, Lakshadweep ranks highest. It has 91.33% of its area under forest cover. Mizoram follows with 85.34%. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands come next with 81.62%.
The report also highlights other environmental gains. Bamboo-bearing areas have increased by 5,227 sq km. These now stand at 1,54,670 sq km. Mangrove cover has also risen slightly to 4,992 sq km.
India’s forest carbon stock has grown to 7,285.5 million tonnes. This is an increase of 81.5 million tonnes since 2021. This growth helps India move closer to its climate goals.
Environment Minister Yadav praised technological advancements. He mentioned real-time forest fire alerts. He also highlighted advanced forest fire management systems.
Despite the slight rise in Himachal’s forest cover, the lack of substantial growth in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand raises concerns. Both states are crucial for biodiversity conservation.
Their forests play a vital role in water conservation and tourism.
Experts call for modern forest management techniques and urgent afforestation efforts. Strengthening forest health in these regions is critical for ecological stability and sustainable development.
