Lok Sabha Question No. 2836 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Forest Land
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2836

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Forest Land

## 2836.    SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

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

- (a) the total area of forest land in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of decline/rise in the area of forest land during each of the last five years along with the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether large areas of forest land have been/are being encroached upon in various parts of the country including Chhattisgarh, if so, the details thereof along with the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether  forest  departments  in  some  States  including  Chhattisgarh  have  identified additional areas of forest land in the States concerned; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) & (b)   Forest  Survey  of  India, Dehradun, carries out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per the latest  report  i.e.  ISFR-  2017,  the  total  area  under  forest  and  tree  cover  in  the  country  is 8,02,088 square kilometer which is 24.39% of geographical area, out of this,  forest cover in the country is 7,08,273 square kilometers which is 21.54% of the geographical area of the country.  There is an increase of 6778 square kilometer of total forest cover compared to that of ISFR-2015 (updated).  The details of forest cover as per ISFR-2011 to 2017 is as below:-

## (Area in square kilometers)

|   Year of ISFR | Total Forest Cover   |
|----------------|----------------------|
|           2011 | 6,92,027             |
|           2013 | 6,97,898             |
|           2015 | 7,01,495 (updated)   |
|           2017 | 7,08,273             |

The State-wise details of changes in forest cover are given in Annexure-I .  The  probable reasons for change in Forest cover are given in Annexure-II.

- (c) to (e)  As per the data received from various States/UTs, the area of forest land encroached upon in the  various  States/UTs  are  given  in Annexure III .  Since,  removal  of  encroachment  from forest  land  falls  within  the  domain  of  State  Government,    the  Ministry  has  requested  all States/UTs on several occasions to remove encroachment as per the existing acts/rules and ensure that no further encroachment takes place,

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2836 due for answer on 28.12.2018 regarding 'Forest Land'

## Change in Forest Cover of States/UTs between 2015 and 2017 assessments

(area in square kilometer)

| State               | Geographic Area   | Total Forest cover as per ISFR- 2017   |   Percent of Geographic area |   Change in forest cover wrt ISFR 2015 (updated) |
|---------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | 162968            | 28,147                                 |                        17.27 |                                          2141    |
| Arunachal Pradesh   | 83743             | 66,964                                 |                        79.96 |                                          -190    |
| Assam               | 78438             | 28,105                                 |                        35.83 |                                           567    |
| Bihar               | 94163             | 7,299                                  |                         7.75 |                                            45    |
| Chhattisgarh        | 135192            | 55,547                                 |                        41.09 |                                           -12    |
| Delhi               | 1483              | 192.41                                 |                        12.97 |                                             3.64 |
| Goa                 | 3702              | 2,229                                  |                        60.21 |                                            19    |
| Gujarat             | 196244            | 14,757                                 |                         7.52 |                                            47    |
| Haryana             | 44212             | 1,588                                  |                         3.59 |                                             8    |
| Himachal Pradesh    | 55673             | 15,100                                 |                        27.12 |                                           393    |
| Jammu &Kashmir *    | 222236            | 23,241                                 |                        10.46 |                                           253    |
| Jharkhand           | 79716             | 23,553                                 |                        29.55 |                                            29    |
| Karnataka           | 191791            | 37,550                                 |                        19.58 |                                          1101    |
| Kerala              | 38852             | 20,321                                 |                        52.3  |                                          1043    |
| Madhya Pradesh      | 308252            | 77,414                                 |                        25.11 |                                           -12    |
| Maharashtra         | 307713            | 50,682                                 |                        16.47 |                                           -17    |
| Manipur             | 22327             | 17,346                                 |                        77.69 |                                           263    |
| Meghalaya           | 22429             | 17,146                                 |                        76.45 |                                          -116    |
| Mizoram             | 21081             | 18,186                                 |                        86.27 |                                          -531    |
| Nagaland            | 16579             | 12,489                                 |                        75.33 |                                          -450    |
| Odisha              | 155707            | 51,345                                 |                        32.98 |                                           885    |
| Punjab              | 50362             | 1837                                   |                         3.65 |                                            66    |
| Rajasthan           | 342239            | 16,572                                 |                         4.84 |                                           466    |
| Sikkim              | 7096              | 3,344                                  |                        47.13 |                                            -9    |
| Tamil Nadu          | 130060            | 26,281                                 |                        20.21 |                                            73    |
| Telangana           | 112077            | 20,419                                 |                        18.22 |                                           565    |
| Tripura             | 10486             | 7,726                                  |                        73.68 |                                          -164    |
| Uttar Pradesh       | 240928            | 14,679                                 |                         6.09 |                                           278    |
| Uttarakhand         | 53483             | 24,295                                 |                        45.43 |                                            23    |
| West Bengal         | 88752             | 16,847                                 |                        18.98 |                                            21    |
| A&N Islands         | 8249              | 6,742                                  |                        81.73 |                                            -9    |
| Chandigarh          | 114               | 21.56                                  |                        18.91 |                                            -0.1  |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 491               | 207                                    |                        42.16 |                                             1    |
| Daman& Diu          | 111               | 20.49                                  |                        18.46 |                                             0.88 |
| Lakshadweep         | 30                | 27.10                                  |                        90.33 |                                             0.04 |
| Puducherry          | 490               | 53.67                                  |                        10.95 |                                            -3.28 |
| Grand Total         | 32,87,469         | 708273                                 |                        21.54 |                                          6778    |

## State wise Details for Reasons for Change in Forest Cover

| State             | Possible Reasons                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh    | The main reason for net increase of 2141 sq km in forest cover in the State can be attributed to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest areas as well as improvement in interpretation due to better radiometric resolution of the recent satellite data from Resourcesat-2. The decrease in the forest cover in East Godavari and Prakasam districts are mainly due to rotational felling of commercial plantations. |
| Arunachal Pradesh | A decrease of 190 sq km observed in the in the forest cover of the State can be attributed to shifting cultivation and developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Assam             | An increase of 567 sq km in the forest cover is mainly due to the plantations mostly outside forest areas. The decrease in forest cover in some districts is mainly due to rotational felling in tea gardens, shifting cultivation and developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Bihar             | A net positive change of 45 sq km observed in the state could be attributed to plantations and conservation. .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Chhattisgarh      | A small decrease of 12 sq km observed in the State can be attributed to mining activities, diversion of land for developmental activities and rotational felling. Positive changes observed in some districts are due to plantation and conservation activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Delhi             | An increase of 3.64 sq km has been observed which can be attributed to plantation activities and conservation whereas the decrease in forest cover at some places is due to developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Goa               | An increase of 19 sq km in forest cover observed in the State is mostly due to expansion of tree cover outside Recorded Forest Areas. However, forest cover within the Recorded Forest Area has decreased by 9 sq km due to mining and other developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Gujarat           | An increase of 47 sq km observed in the State can be attributed to plantation and conservation both within and outside recorded forest areas as well as due to conservation and expansion of mangrove cover.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Haryana           | A net increase of 8 sq km in forest cover observed is mostly due to increase in tree cover outside recorded forest areas. The decrease in forest cover in certain pockets is due to rotational felling.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Himachal Pradesh  | The main reason for net increase of 393 sq km in forest cover in the State can be attributed to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest Areas as well as improvement in interpretation due to better radiometric resolution of the recent satellite data from Resourcesat-2.                                                                                                                                           |
| Jammu &Kashmir    | The main reason for net increase of 253 sq km in forest cover in the State can be attributed to plantation and conservation activities as well as improvement in interpretation due to better radiometric resolution of the recent satellite data from Resourcesat-2.                                                                                                                                                                                             |

| State          | Possible Reasons                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Jharkhand      | A net increase of 29 sq km has been observed in the State which can be attributed to plantation and conservation efforts within recorded forest areas. Although, there is an increase of 314 sq km in forest cover within Recorded Forest Areas, its effect on forest cover has been offset due to felling of trees outside it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Karnataka      | The main reason for net increase of 1,101 sq km in forest cover in the State can be attributed to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest Areas as well as improvement in interpretation due to better radiometric resolution of the recent satellite data from Resourcesat-2. Large scale increase in commercial plantation of palms outside forest areas, density improvement in scrub forests and expansion of mangrove cover due to conservation and rehabilitation efforts are also the major reasons for the increase observed in the state. |
| Kerala         | The main reason for net increase of 1,043 sq km in forest cover in the State can be attributed to commercial plantations outside Forest areas as well as improvement in interpretation due to better radiometric resolution of the recent satellite data from Resourcesat-2.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Madhya Pradesh | A net decrease of 12 sq km has been observed in the State which could be attributed to expansion of agriculture, developmental activities, submergence, mining and rotational felling.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Maharashtra    | A net decrease of 17sq km has been observed in the State can be attributed to rotational fellings, submergence, agricultural expansion and other developmental activities. Although a decrease of 149 sq km has been observed within Recorded Forest areas, the overall decrease has been offset due to expansion of tree cover outside forest areas. Rehabilitation efforts have led to appreciable increase in Mangrove Cover of the State over west coast.                                                                                                                                 |
| Manipur        | A net increase of 263 sq km has been observed in the state due to plantation and conservation, as well as re growth in shifting cultivation areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Meghalaya      | A net decrease of 116 sq km has been observed in the State due to shifting cultivation, rotational felling and developmental activities. Increase in forest cover in certain pockets is due to plantation activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Mizoram        | The net decrease of 531 sq km in forest cover in Mizoram can be attributed to shifting cultivation and developmental activities. Increase in forest cover in certain pockets is due to regeneration of Bamboo and other plantations. .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Nagaland       | A net decrease of 450 sq km in forest cover observed in the State can be attributed to shifting cultivation and development activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Odisha         | The main reason for net increase of 885 sq km in forest cover in the State can be attributed to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest areas as well as improvement in interpretation due to better radiometric resolution of the recent satellite data from Resourcesat-2. The reasons for decrease in forest cover observed in some districts can be attributed to developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                    |
| Punjab         | Much of the 66 sq km increase in the forest cover can be attributed to increase in tree cover outside recorded forest areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

| State               | Possible Reasons                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Rajasthan           | A net gain of 466 sq km has been observed in forest cover of the State which can be attributed to plantations, regeneration of fast growing species and conservation efforts.                                                                                                                                                        |
| Sikkim              | A net loss of 9 sq km in forest cover observed in the State can be attributed to developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Tamil Nadu          | A net increase of 73 sq km in the forest cover of the State can be attributed to plantations and conservation efforts within Recorded forest areas. The negative change observed in some areas is mainly due to harvesting of trees outside forests and developmental activities.                                                    |
| Telangana           | A net increase of 565 sq km has been observed in the State compared to the previous assessment, the reasons for which can be attributed to expansion of tree cover mostly outside recorded forest areas. The decrease in Forest Cover in Adilabad and Khammam districts are due to the rotational felling of commercial plantations. |
| Tripura             | A net decrease of 164 sq km in the forest cover of the State can be attributed to shifting cultivation, harvesting of mature rubber plantations and other developmental activities. In some cases, positive change due to extension of area under rubber plantation has also been observed.                                          |
| Uttar Pradesh       | A net increase of 278 sq km has been observed in the State compared to the previous assessment which can be attributed to plantation and conservation.                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Uttarakhand         | A net increase of 23 sq km has been observed in the State which can be attributed to expansion of tree cover outside forests. However, forest cover within Recorded Forest Area shows a net decrease of 49 sq km which can be attributed to rotational fellings and developmental activities.                                        |
| West Bengal         | A net increase of 21 sq km has been observed in the State can be attributed to plantation activities mostly outside recorded forest areas as well as due to conservation of mangroves.                                                                                                                                               |
| A&N Islands         | A net decrease of 9 sq km in forest cover observed is mainly due to developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Chandigarh          | A small negative change of 0.10 Sq km in the forest cover of the UT could be attributed to developmental activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli | An increase of 1 sq km in forest cover observed is due to increase in tree cover outside recorded forest areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Daman &Diu          | An increase of 0.88 Sq km in forest cover observed in the UT can be attributed to expansion of tree cover outside the recorded forest area.                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Lakshadweep         | A small negative change of 0.04 sq km observed is due to felling of trees outside forests.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Puducherry          | The main reason for decrease of 3.28sq km in forest cover can be attributed to harvesting of trees outside forests.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

## Annexure  III

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2836 due for answer on 28.12.2018 regarding 'Forest Land'

## State/UTs wise details of area under encroachment

(Area in hectare)

| S. No.   | Name of States/UTs   | Area under Encroachment   | As on Date   |
|----------|----------------------|---------------------------|--------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh       | 1690.72                   | 31.03.2016   |
| 2        | Bihar                | 132.21                    | 31.03.2015   |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh         | 19330.64                  | 31.01.2016   |
| 4        | Gujarat              | 34791.00                  | 19.03.2011   |
| 5        | Goa                  | Nil                       | 25.02.2013   |
| 6        | Haryana              | 520.00                    | 31.03.2016   |
| 7        | Himachal Pradesh     | 2339.02                   | 31.03.2016   |
| 8        | Jharkhand            | 26496.00                  | 07.08.2017   |
| 9        | Jammu &Kashmir       | 10279.28                  | 31.03.2017   |
| 10       | Karnataka            | 82734.81                  | 31.03.2017   |
| 11       | Kerala               | 7801.10                   | 31.03.2017   |
| 12       | Madhya Pradesh       | 534717.28                 | 31.03.2016   |
| 13       | Maharashtra          | 67012.56                  | 31.03.2016   |
| 14       | Odisha               | 78505.08                  | 22.07.2011   |
| 15       | Punjab               | 8175.31                   | 31.03.2017   |
| 16       | Rajasthan            | 10839.76                  | 31.03.2017   |
| 17       | Tamil Nadu           | 15041.57                  | 31.03.2017   |
| 18       | Telangana            | 3056.00                   | 31.03.2017   |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh        | 23954.41                  | 31.03.2017   |
| 20       | Uttarakhand          | 9534.10                   | 13.12.2017   |
| 21       | West Bengal          | 10214.80                  | 31.03.2016   |
| 22       | Arunachal Pradesh    | 58636.13                  | 31.03.2016   |
| 23       | Assam                | 317215.39                 | 17.03.2015   |
| 24       | Manipur              | 6726.51                   | 31.03.2017   |
| 25       | Meghalaya            | 9378.00                   | 12.03.2011   |
| 26       | Mizoram              | 11408.16                  | 28.11.2017   |
| 27       | Nagaland             | 2479.96                   | 31.03.2017   |
| 28       | Sikkim               | 2817.21                   | 31.03.2016   |
| 29       | Tripura              | 6.77                      | 08.08.2014   |
| 30       | A &NIslands          | 4068.69                   | 31.03.2016   |
| 31       | Chandigarh           | 14.00                     | 03.08.2017   |
| 32       | D&N Haveli           | 614.40                    | 31.03.2013   |
| 33       | Daman &Diu           | 87.83                     | 28.09.2010   |
| 34       | Lakshadweep          | Nil                       | 28.08.2010   |
| 35       | Delhi                | 629.51                    | 11.04.2012   |
| 36       | Puducherry           | Nil                       | 21.10.2010   |
|          | TOTAL                | 1361248.21                |              |