Lok Sabha Question No. 2696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Variation in Forest Cover in the Country
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2696

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## Variation in Forest cover in the Country

2696    SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:

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

- (a)   the key findings of the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) regarding change in forest and tree coverage;
- (b)  whether there has been any change in the forest coverage in the country in the last few decades;
- (c)   if so, the details thereof and the challenges faced by the Government in maintaining it;
- (d)  the details of the regional variations in forest cover across the country and the details of the factors driving such variations;
- (e)   the details of the steps taken by the Government to combat deforestation and promote reforestation and afforestation; and
- (f)   the ways the Government addresses the issue of forest conservation while promoting development?

## 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 of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 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).

As per ISFR 2023, the total forest and tree cover of the country is 8,27,356.95 square  kilometer  which  is  25.17  per  cent  of  the  geographical  area  of  the country.This includes 7,15,342.61 square kilometer as forest cover and 1,12,014.34 square kilometer as tree cover.  The current assessment shows an increase of 1445.81 square kilometer in the forest and tree cover as compared to the last assessment of 2021. This includes 156.41 square kilometer in the forest cover and 1289.4 square kilometer in the tree cover.

There  has  been  a  net  increase  of  16,630.25  square  kilometer  in  forest  cover during last ten years in the country between ISFR 2013 and ISFR 2023. Hence, the forest and tree cover of the country is not only maintained but has shown net increase  over  the  last  decade  due  to  implementation  of  various  policies  and programs  including  conservation  efforts  made  by  the  respective  States/UTs. There is an increasing trend of forest and tree cover in the country since last decade.

The forest cover assessment is a wall-to-wall mapping exercise based on remote sensing  supported  by  intensive  ground  verification  and  field  data  from  the National Forest Inventory. Besides state-wise forest and tree cover assessment, the ISFR 2023 has also provided details for three specific region of the country, namely,  Western  Ghats  Eco-Sensitive  Areas  (WGESA),  Hill  Districts  of  the Country and North Eastern Region. As per ISFR 2023, the  forest cover in all districts under WGESA is  44,043.99 square kilometer, forest cover in the hills districts of the country is 2,83,713.20 square kilometer and the total forest and tree  cover  in  the  North  Eastern  Region  of  the  country  is  1,74,394.70  square kilometer.

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 and Rules.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issues advisories to the State Governments/UT Administrations for protection and conservation of the forests. 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),  Forest  Fire  Prevention  and  Management  Schemes (FFPMS),  Nagar  Van  Yojana  (NVY)  and  Mangrove  Initiative  for  Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Income (MISHTI). 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.

Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  while  regulating  the diversion  of  forest  land  for  various  developmental  purposes  under  the  Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980; a balance between conservation and development is ensured with appropriate mitigation measures which includes the Compensatory Afforestation (CA), payment of Net Present Value  (NPV),  Soil  and  Moisture  Conservation  Works,  and  the  site  specific conservation plan.