Lok Sabha Question No. 5624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Dense Forests
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Chandan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  5624

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2019

## Dense Forests

## 5624.    SHRI CHANDAN SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the total area of dense forests in the country during the year 2017-18, State/ UT-wise;
- (b) the definition of dense forests, as fixed by the Government;
- (c) whether the dense forests are constantly shrinking in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether any assessment regarding the requirement of area of dense forests towards keeping the climate healthy and clean has been made and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government has formulated a time bound action plan for fixing the required area of dense forests in each State; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially and findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR).  As per the latest ISFR 2017, the total area of dense forests in the country is 4,06,476 square kilometre. The State/UTs details of dense forest cover as per ISFR 2017 is given in Annexure.
- (b) The definition of the term 'Forest cover' in the ISFR is as given below:

'All lands, more than 1 hectare in area, with a tree canopy density of more than 10 percent irrespective  of  ownership  and  legal  status.  Such  lands  may  not  necessarily  be  a  recorded forest area. It also includes orchards, bamboo and palm.'

Of the above definition of forest cover, dense forests are those that have a canopy density of above  40%.  The  dense  forests  are  further  divided  into  Moderately  Dense  Forest  (canopy density 40% to 70%) and Very Dense Forest (Canopy density >70%).

- (c) No, Sir. As per the latest ISFR 2017, there is an increase of 5104 square kilometre in dense forest cover of the country compared to the data published in ISFR 2015. The main reason for  increase  in  forest  cover  including  dense  forests  can  be  attributed  to  plantation  and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest areas.
- (d) No, Sir. However, forests are necessary to keep the environment and climate of the country clean  and  healthy.  Forests  provide  various  environmental  benefits  and  ecological  services. Trees  purify  the  polluted  air  by  absorbing  large  amount  pollutants  like  carbon  dioxide, sulphur dioxide by their leaves and releasing oxygen. Trees produce a healthy environment by providing clean air, water and soil. Trees, especially broad leaves trap aerosols and small particles and acts as dust filters. Tree covers absorb rain water and allow the drained water to percolate into the soil thus maintaining ground water table and reduces runoff.
- (e) &  (f)  The Ministry has not formulated any action plan for fixing the required area of dense forests in each State. However, as per National Forest Policy 1988, the national goal should be to have a minimum of one-third of the total land area of the country under forest or tree cover. In the hills and in mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain two-third of the area under such cover in order to prevent erosion and land degradation and to ensure the stability of the fragile eco-system.

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Annexure

## Annexure referred to reply in part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5624 due for answer on 26.07.2019 regarding 'Dense Forests'

## State/UTs details of dense forest cover as per ISFR 2017

(Area in square kilometre)

| State               | Geographic Area   | Very Dense Forest (VDF)   | Moderately Dense Forest (MDF)   | Total Dense Forest   |
|---------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | 162968            | 1,957                     | 14,051                          | 16,011               |
| Arunachal Pradesh   | 83743             | 20,721                    | 30,955                          | 51,676               |
| Assam               | 78438             | 2,797                     | 10,192                          | 12,989               |
| Bihar               | 94163             | 332                       | 3,260                           | 3,592                |
| Chhattisgarh        | 135192            | 7,064                     | 32,215                          | 39,279               |
| Delhi               | 1483              | 6.72                      | 56.24                           | 62.96                |
| Goa                 | 3702              | 538                       | 576                             | 1114                 |
| Gujarat             | 196244            | 378                       | 5,200                           | 5578                 |
| Haryana             | 44212             | 28                        | 452                             | 480                  |
| Himachal Pradesh    | 55673             | 3,110                     | 6,705                           | 9815                 |
| Jammu &Kashmir *    | 222236            | 4,075                     | 8,579                           | 12654                |
| Jharkhand           | 79716             | 2,598                     | 9686                            | 12284                |
| Karnataka           | 191791            | 4,502                     | 20,444                          | 24946                |
| Kerala              | 38852             | 1,663                     | 9,407                           | 11070                |
| Madhya Pradesh      | 308252            | 6,563                     | 34,571                          | 41134                |
| Maharashtra         | 307713            | 8,736                     | 20,652                          | 29388                |
| Manipur             | 22327             | 908                       | 6,510                           | 7418                 |
| Meghalaya           | 22429             | 453                       | 9,386                           | 9839                 |
| Mizoram             | 21081             | 131                       | 5,861                           | 5992                 |
| Nagaland            | 16579             | 1,279                     | 4,587                           | 5866                 |
| Odisha              | 155707            | 6,967                     | 21,370                          | 28337                |
| Punjab              | 50362             | 8                         | 806                             | 814                  |
| Rajasthan           | 342239            | 78                        | 4,340                           | 4418                 |
| Sikkim              | 7096              | 1081                      | 1,575                           | 2656                 |
| Tamil Nadu          | 130060            | 3,672                     | 10,979                          | 14651                |
| Telangana           | 112077            | 1,596                     | 8,738                           | 10334                |
| Tripura             | 10486             | 656                       | 5,246                           | 5902                 |
| Uttar Pradesh       | 240928            | 2,617                     | 4,069                           | 6686                 |
| Uttarakhand         | 53483             | 4,969                     | 12,884                          | 17853                |
| West Bengal         | 88752             | 2,994                     | 4,147                           | 7141                 |
| A&N Islands         | 8249              | 5,678                     | 684                             | 6362                 |
| Chandigarh          | 114               | 1.36                      | 13.82                           | 15.18                |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 491               | 0                         | 80                              | 80                   |
| Daman &Diu          | 111               | 1.40                      | 5.82                            | 7.22                 |
| Lakshadweep         | 30                | 0                         | 17.04                           | 17.04                |
| Puducherry          | 490               | 0                         | 17.60                           | 17.60                |
| Grand Total         | 32,87,469         | 98158                     | 308318                          | 406476               |