Lok Sabha Question No. 1029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Loss of Forest Cover in NE Region
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1029

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## Loss of Forest Cover in NE Region

## 1029.   SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:

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

- (a) the details of total present green forest area in the North Eastern Region (NER);
- (b) whether it is a fact that hundred of acres green forest/trees have been removed in the  North  Eastern  Region  due  to  infrastructure  development  and  illegal  forest cutting;
- (c) whether it is  a fact that NER loses  over 3,100 sq. km. of  green  cover in last ten years;
- (d) whether any study has been under taken on the impact of decadal change in forest cover or various ecological, environment and socio-economic aspect of the region, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  change  in  forest  cover  also  has  substantial  implications  on  carbon sequestration, soil fertility and watershed stability, if so, the details in this regard; and
- (f) the details of action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for replantation and  check on illegal cutting of forests in the said Region?

## 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).  As per ISFR  2023,  the  total  forest  and  tree  cover  in  the  North  Eastern  Region  is 1,74,394.70 square kilometre, which is 67% of the geographical area of North Eastern States.

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 16,630.25  square  kilometers  between  2013  and  2023  assessment.  However, there  has  been  increase in  forest  cover  in  some  of  the  states  and  decrease  in some of the states of the country, details of which have been provided in the ISFR 2023.

The decadal change analysis of various forest parameters has been carried out in ISFR 2023. As per analysis of important characteristics of forests, there is a general improvement in soil health reflected by improvement in humus, which in  turn,  reflected  in  better  grass  cover  and  better  undergrowth.  There  is  an increase  of  81.5  metric  tonnes  of  carbon  stock  as  compared  to  estimates  of

ISFR  2021which  includes  increase  of  5.19  metric  tonnes  of  carbon  stock  in North Eastern Region.

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 trees as per the provisions of the law.  Further, in order to protect forests, various measures are taken by the State Forest Departments, which 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  is  providing  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). Afforestation  is  also  carried  out  by  the  States/  UTs  under  the  Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

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