Lok Sabha Question No. 1132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Conservation of Forests
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor, Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan, Shri Zia Ur Rehman

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1132

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## Conservation of Forests

- 1132     SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR: SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN: DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN:

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

- (a) whether the forest cover is decreasing continuously in the country, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government for the conservation of forests and increase forest cover in the country;
- (c) whether the incidences of tree felling are increasing day by day;
- (d) if so, the preventive measures taken by the Government to prevent illegal felling of trees and hunting in forest areas, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce any new national scheme for the conservation of forests; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a)to(f) Forest  Survey  of  India  (FSI),  Dehradun,  an  organization  under  the  Ministry, carries out the assessment of forest and tree cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).  There is an increasing trend of forest cover in the country since last decade. As per ISFR 2023, there is a net increase of the forest cover to the extent of 16,630 square kilometers between 2013 and 2023 assessment.

The  protection  and  management  of  forest  and  tree  resources  is  primarily  the responsibility of the  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the  protection and management of forest and tree resources of the country which include, the Indian Forest Act 1927, Van (Sanrakshan  Evam  Samvardhan)  Adhiniyam  1980,  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act 1972 and the State Forest Acts, Tree Preservation Acts and Rules, etc.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issues advisories to the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  to  protect  forests  and  prevent illegal felling of trees and hunting in forest areas as per the provisions of the law.    In  this  regard,  various  measures  taken  by  the  State  Forest  Departments include  survey  and  demarcation  of  forest  areas,  fixing  of  pillars  along  forest boundary and regular patrolling by field staff.

In addition, the Ministry provides technical and financial support to the States /UTs  for  protection,  conservation  and  management  of  forests  in  the  country. For afforestation, the  Government has provided funds  under various schemes and programmes such as National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Development  of  Wildlife  Habitats  (DWH),  and  Nagar  Van  Yojana  (NVY). These  schemes  supports  the  efforts  of  the  States  and  UTs  for  ecological restoration  through  afforestation  in  and  outside  forest  areas,  forest  landscape restoration,  habitat  improvement,  soil  and  water  conservation  measures,  and protection  etc.  Afforestation  is  also  carried  out  by  the  States/  UTs  under  the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

A  campaign एक \_ पेड़ \_ माँ \_ क े \_ नाम #Plant4Mother  has  been  launched  on  the occasion  of  World  Environment  Day  2024  to  undertake  plantation  activities across  the  country  following  the  'Whole  of  Government'  and  'Whole  of Society'  approach  with  participation  of  all  stakeholders  for  increasing  the green cover. As per information made available on Meri Life Portal by all the stakeholders,  planting  of  109  Crore  seedlings  have  been  reported  till  end  of January, 2025.

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