Lok Sabha Question No. 1306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: Forest Area in Jharkhand
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1306

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## Forest Area in Jharkhand

## 1306.    SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that a large percentage of the population of Jharkhand is dependent on forest;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government proposes to increase the area under forest in Jharkhand from 29.45% to 33%;
- (c) if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  any  specialized  institute  for conducting studies and research on forests and for management of forest resources in the State;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which such an institute is likely to be setup; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b)   Yes, Sir.   The Government is aware that there are large number of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers in Jharkhand who are dependent on forests.

Forest  Survey  of  India,  Dehradun,  a    subordinate    organization    under    the    Ministry 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 forest and tree cover in the State of Jharkhand is 26,475 square kilometer (forest cover 23,553 square kilometer, tree cover 2922 square kilometer) which is 33.21 percent of the total geographical area of the State.

However, for conservation, development and enrichment of forest cover in the country including State of Jharkhand, afforestation programmes are being taken up under various Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  such  as  National  Afforestation  Programme  (NAP)  and Green India Mission (GIM) being implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Afforestation activities are also taken up under various programmes/funding sources such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment

Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Compensatory Afforestation Fund.

- (c)  to  (e)  There  is  no  proposal  to  establish  any  specialized  institute  for  conducting  studies  and research on forests  and  for  management of forest resources in the State of Jharkhand. However,  Indian  Council  of  Forestry  Research  and  Education  (ICFRE),  Dehradun  an autonomous  organization  under  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change  (MoEF&CC)  is  undertaking  holistic  research  on  forestry  through  its  nine research institutes and five Regional Centres situated in the different agro-climatic zones of the country. Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi is one of the research institute of ICFRE  in  the  State  of  Jharkhand  with  mandate  to  undertake  and  promote  forestry research, education and extension, leading to scientific and sustainable management of forest resources.

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