Lok Sabha Question No. 3078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Forest Cover in the Country
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Sunil Kumar Mondal, Nishikant  Dubey

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 3078

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## Forest Cover in the Country

3078.    SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

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

- (a) whether the forest cover has decreased in the country including Jharkhand during the last five years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  scheme  for  the  conservation  of  forests  in Indian  territory  or  evoked  people  to  promote  and  to  sow  new  plants  specially  Neem, Ficus Religiosa, Banyan trees and others to pure the environment;
- (d) if so the details thereof, State/UT-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  important  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  forest  cover under land area and to scale up the conservation of the sanctuaries in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)  &  (b)  There  is  no  overall  decrease  in  the  forest  cover  in  the  country,  including  the  State  of Jharkhand. Infact, the forest cover has increased in the country including Jharkhand during last five years. Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries  out  the  assessment  of  forest  cover  biennially  since  1987  and  the  findings  are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per latest ISFR 2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,789 square kilometre which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country. The trend for the last three ISFRs shows an increase in Forest cover of the country. The forest cover has increased by 3,976 square kilometre between ISFR 2017 and ISFR 2019 assessment while there is an increase of 1,540 square kilometre between ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2021 assessment. The State wise details of change in Forest Cover including the  State  of  Jharkhand  between  ISFR  2017,  ISFR  2019  and  ISFR  2021  are  given  in Annexure-I.
- (c)  &  (d)  Conservation  and  Protection  of  forests  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  concerned  State Government and UT Governments as per the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and rules made there under, and also under State Specific Acts and Rules.

Under various afforestation programmes implemented under central and state government schemes including National Mission for Green India and CAMPA, planting of local species are promoted.

- (e)  In order to restore ecosystems and increase the forest cover in the country, afforestation and tree  plantation  activities  are  undertaken  by  States/UTs.  The  Ministry  provides  financial assistance  to  States/UTs  under  various  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  namely  Green  India Mission to support and supplement the efforts of States and Union Territories.

The  Ministry  is  implementing  Nagar  Van  Yojana  (NVY)  since  the  year  2020  which envisages  creation  of  400  Nagar  Vans  and  200  Nagar  Vatika  in  the  country  during  the period  2020-21  to  2024-25  under  the  funds  available  under  National  Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA). The Nagar Van Yojana aims to enhance the green cover in the  urban  and  peri-urban  areas  including  biological  diversity,  provide  ecological  benefits and improve the quality of life of city dwellers.

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA fund) are being utilized by States/UTs for taking  up  compensatory  afforestation  as  per  approved  Annual  Plan  of  Operations  for compensating  the  loss of forest &  tree cover  due  to  diversion of forest land for developmental  projects  as  per  provisions  of  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Act,  2016 (CAF Act) and CAF Rules, 2018.

Afforestation  activities  are  also  taken  up  under  various  programmes  and  schemes  of  line Ministry  such  as  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme, National Bamboo Mission, Sub-Mission on Agroforestry etc. and under schemes of State Government/UT Administration through different departments, Non-Government Organizations,  Civil  Society,  Corporate  bodies  etc.  The  multi  departmental  efforts  have yielded good results in conserving and enhancing forest cover in the country.

Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves  have  been  created  in  the  country  covering  important  habitats  to  provide  better protection to wildlife, including threatened species and their habitat. Financial assistance is provided to the   State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of  'Integrated  Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats'  for  better  protection  of  wildlife  and improvement of habitat. Local communities are involved in conservation measures through eco-development activities.

****

## Annexure-I

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3078 due for answer on 20.03.2023 regarding 'Forest Cover in the Country'

## State/UTs wise details of change in Forest Cover from ISFR 2017 to ISFR 2021

(Area in Square Kilometre)

7

1

9

2

1

0

|                       |                    | Forest Cover   | Forest Cover   | Forest Cover   | Change in Forest                                          |                                            |
|-----------------------|--------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| States/UTs            | Geographi cal area | ISFR 2017 (a)  | ISFR 2019 (b)  | ISFR 2021 (c)  | Cover between ISFR 2017 & ISFR 2019 (b-a) Cover ISFR ISFR | Change in Forest between 2019 & 2021 (c-b) |
| Andhra Pradesh        | 1,62,968           | 28,147         | 29,137         | 29,784         | 990                                                       | 647                                        |
| Arunachal Pradesh     | 83,743             | 66,964         | 66,688         | 66,431         | -276                                                      | -257                                       |
| Assam                 | 78,438             | 28,105         | 28,327         | 28,312         | 222                                                       | -15                                        |
| Bihar                 | 94,163             | 7,299          | 7,306          | 7,381          | 7                                                         | 75                                         |
| Chhattisgarh          | 1,35,192           | 55,547         | 55,611         | 55,717         | 64                                                        | 106                                        |
| Delhi                 | 1,483              | 192.41         | 195.44         | 195            | 3.03                                                      | -0.44                                      |
| Goa                   | 3,702              | 2,229          | 2,237          | 2,244          | 8                                                         | 7                                          |
| Gujarat               | 1,96,244           | 14,757         | 14,857         | 14,926         | 100                                                       | 69                                         |
| Haryana               | 44,212             | 1,588          | 1,602          | 1,603          | 14                                                        | 1                                          |
| Himachal Pradesh      | 55,673             | 15,100         | 15,434         | 15,443         | 334                                                       | 9                                          |
| Jharkhand             | 79,716             | 23,553         | 23,611         | 23,721         | 58                                                        | 110                                        |
| Karnataka             | 1,91,791           | 37,550         | 38,575         | 38,730         | 1025                                                      | 155                                        |
| Kerala                | 38,852             | 20,321         | 21,144         | 21,253         | 823                                                       | 109                                        |
| Madhya Pradesh        | 3,08,252           | 77,414         | 77,482         | 77,493         | 68                                                        | 11                                         |
| Maharashtra           | 3,07,713           | 50,682         | 50,778         | 50,798         | 96                                                        | 20                                         |
| Manipur               | 22,327             | 17,346         | 16,847         | 16,598         | -499                                                      | -249                                       |
| Meghalaya             | 22,429             | 17,146         | 17,119         | 17,046         | -27                                                       | -73                                        |
| Mizoram               | 21,081             | 18,186         | 18,006         | 17,820         | -180                                                      | -186                                       |
| Nagaland              | 16,579             | 12,489         | 12,486         | 12,251         | -3                                                        | -235                                       |
| Odisha                | 1,55,707           | 51,345         | 51,619         | 52,156         | 274                                                       | 537                                        |
| Punjab                | 50,362             | 1,837          | 1,849          | 1,847          | 12                                                        | -2                                         |
| Rajasthan             | 3,42,239           | 16,572         | 16,630         | 16,655         | 58                                                        | 25                                         |
| Sikkim                | 7,096              | 3,344          | 3,342          | 3,341          | -2                                                        | -1                                         |
| Tamil Nadu            | 1,30,060           | 26,281         | 26,364         | 26,419         | 83                                                        | 55                                         |
| Telangana             | 1,12,077           | 20,419         | 20,582         | 21,214         | 163                                                       | 632                                        |
| Tripura               | 10,486             | 7,726          | 7,726          | 7,722          | 0                                                         | -4                                         |
| Uttar Pradesh         | 2,40,928           | 14,679         | 14,806         | 14,818         | 127                                                       | 12                                         |
| Uttarakhand           | 53,483             | 24,295         | 24,303         | 24,305         | 8                                                         | 2                                          |
| West Bengal           | 88,752             | 16,847         | 16,902         | 16,832         | 55                                                        | -70                                        |
| A&N Islands           | 8,249              | 6,742          | 6,743          | 6,744          | 1                                                         | 1                                          |
| Chandigarh            | 114                | 21.56          | 22.03          | 22.88          | 0.47                                                      | 0.85                                       |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli # | 491                | 207            | 207            |                | 0                                                         |                                            |
| Daman &Diu #          | 111                | 20.49          | 20.49          | 227.75         | 0                                                         | 0.26                                       |
| Jammu &Kashmir*       | 2,22,236           | 23,241         | 21,358         | 21,387         | -1883                                                     | 29                                         |
| Ladakh                |                    | 0              | 2,254          | 2,272          | 2254                                                      | 18                                         |
| Lakshadweep           | 30                 | 27.10          | 27.10          | 27.10          | 0                                                         | 0                                          |
| Puducherry            | 490                | 53.67          | 52.41          | 53.30          | -1.26                                                     | 0.89                                       |
| Grand Total           | 32,87,469          | 7,08,273       | 7,12,249       | 7,13,789       | 3,976                                                     | 1,540                                      |