Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan recorded the largest gains in forest and tree cover, while Mizoram, Gujarat and Odisha especially showed the highest growth in forest cover. Image for representation. | Photo Credit: The Hindu
India’s total forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445 square kilometers since 2021, reaching 25.17% of the total geographical area in 2023, according to the latest government data.
The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 released on Saturday (December 21, 2024) said the country’s total forest area has increased from 7,13,789 sq km in 2021 to 7,15,343 sq km in 2023, a growth of 21.76%. its geographical area.
Tree cover has increased by 1,289 square kilometers and now covers 3.41% of the country’s geographical area.
Forests and trees together constitute 8,27,357 sq km or 25.17% of India’s geographical area. This marks an overall increase of 1,445 sq km from 2021, with forest area increasing by only 156 sq km.
According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), forest cover refers to all land with a tree canopy density of more than 10% and covering an area of one hectare or more, regardless of ownership or legal status.
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This includes natural forests as well as man-made plantations, orchards, and trees in urban and rural areas that meet size and canopy density criteria.
Tree cover is defined as trees and isolated trees of less than one hectare outside the Reserved Forest Area (RFA).
According to the report, Madhya Pradesh is leading in total forest and tree cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan recorded the largest gains in forest and tree cover, while Mizoram, Gujarat and Odisha especially showed the highest growth in forest cover.
The northeastern states, especially Mizoram, exhibited significant improvements. Mizoram alone saw an increase in forest area of 242 sq km, reversing some of the declines reported in ISFR 2021.
published – December 21, 2024 at 01:00 hrs IST