Lok Sabha Question No. 306 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Decline in Forest Cover
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY, PINAKI MISRA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO.  306***

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2015

**Decline in Forest Cover**

*306.   SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

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

1. whether the area under forest cover/ land has declined in various parts of the country over the years, if so, the details thereof along with the percentage of decline and reasons therefor, State/UT-wise;
2. whether any statute exists to check deforestation and large scale felling of trees in the country and if so, the details thereof;
3. whether comprehensive digital maps of notified  forests area/land in the country is underway and if so, the details thereof and the progress made so far;
4. the funds earmarked/sanctioned and utilized for the protection and conservation of forests during each of the last three years and the current year and the achievements made so far as a result thereof, State-wise and year-wise; and
5. the steps taken for expansion of forest cover and conservation of forests in the country?

**ANSWER**

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*******

**Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 306 by Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Shri Pinaki Misra due for reply on 11.08.2015.**

1. As per India State of Forest Report-2013, the total forest cover in the country is 697,898 square kilometers which is 21.23% of the total geographical area of the country. There is a net increase of 5871 square kilometers in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report-2011. The detailed list showing increase/decrease in forest cover State/UTs wise is given in **Annexure-I.** The reason for decline in the forest cover State/UTs wise is given in the **Annexure II**

1. Legal measures for protection of forests against illicit felling, deforestation etc include Indian Forest Act, 1927, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the rules, guidelines thereof. In addition, the respective States also have their own Acts/Rules.

1. Yes, Sir. 12 States have furnished digital boundaries of Recorded Forest Areas (RFA) to Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. The details are given in **Annexure-III** .

1. The Ministry provides Grants-in-aid to the States/ Union Territories Governments for growth, protection and preservation of forests under Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS).  The aim of the scheme is to supplement the efforts of the States and Union Territories towards protection and management of forests.  Funds under the scheme are utilized for patrolling of the forests, establishment of camps, building, watch towers for detection and monitoring of forest fires, creation and maintenance of fire lines, survey and demarcation of forest areas and strengthening forest infrastructure etc.  The details of funds sanctioned, released and utilized under Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) for the last three years are given in **Annexure-IV.** The funds are utilized as per objective of the scheme.

1. In order to increase the forest and tree cover and improve the quality of existing forest, afforestation in the country is taken up under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA),Finance Commission Grant, different State Plan/ Non- Plan Schemes including externally aided projects. National Afforestation Programme (NAP) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Afforestation and tree plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas in the country. The Scheme is being implemented through a decentralized mechanism of State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at State level, Forest Development Agency (FDA) at Forest Division level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at Village levels.

The Ministry has also released to the tune of Rs.4994.55 lakhs and Rs. 1265.50 lakhs to the states in the financial year 2011-12 and 2013-14 for preparatory activities for implementation of Green India Mission. The activities undertaken by the State Governments under preparatory phase include institutional strengthening, training, identification of landscapes and preparation of Perspective Plan for implementation of Green India Mission.

************

**Annexure I**

**Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 306 due for answer on 11.08.2015 regarding ‘Decline in forest cover’**

**Change in Forest Cover in States/UTs as per India State of Forest Report (ISFR)- 2013**

**(Area in square Kilometers)**

| **States/UTs**       | **Geographical Area**   | **Total Forest Cover 2013**   | **Total Forest Cover 2011**   | **Change in Forest Cover**   | **Change in Percent**   |
|----------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh       | 275069                  | 46116                         | 46389                         | -273                         | -0.10                   |
| Arunachal Pradesh    | 83743                   | 67321                         | 67410                         | -89                          | -0.11                   |
| Assam                | 78438                   | 27671                         | 27673                         | -2                           | 0.00                    |
| Bihar                | 94163                   | 7291                          | 6845                          | 446                          | 0.47                    |
| Chhattisgarh         | 135191                  | 55621                         | 55674                         | -53                          | -0.04                   |
| Delhi                | 1483                    | 179.81                        | 176.2                         | 3.61                         | 0.24                    |
| Goa                  | 3702                    | 2219                          | 2219                          | 0                            | 0.00                    |
| Gujarat              | 196022                  | 14653                         | 14619                         | 34                           | 0.02                    |
| Haryana              | 44212                   | 1586                          | 1608                          | -22                          | -0.05                   |
| Himachal Pradesh     | 55673                   | 14683                         | 14679                         | 4                            | 0.01                    |
| Jammu & Kashmir      | 222236                  | 22538                         | 22539                         | -1                           | 0.00                    |
| Jharkhand            | 79714                   | 23473                         | 22977                         | 496                          | 0.62                    |
| Karnataka            | 191791                  | 36132                         | 36194                         | -62                          | -0.03                   |
| Kerala               | 38863                   | 17922                         | 17300                         | 622                          | 1.60                    |
| Madhya Pradesh       | 308245                  | 77522                         | 77700                         | -178                         | -0.06                   |
| Maharashtra          | 307713                  | 50632                         | 50646                         | -14                          | 0.00                    |
| Manipur              | 22327                   | 16990                         | 17090                         | -100                         | -0.45                   |
| Meghalaya            | 22429                   | 17288                         | 17275                         | 13                           | 0.06                    |
| Mizoram              | 21081                   | 19054                         | 19117                         | -63                          | -0.30                   |
| Nagaland             | 16579                   | 13044                         | 13318                         | -274                         | -1.65                   |
| Odisha               | 155707                  | 50347                         | 48903                         | 1444                         | 0.93                    |
| Punjab               | 50362                   | 1772                          | 1764                          | 8                            | 0.02                    |
| Rajasthan            | 342239                  | 16086                         | 16087                         | -1                           | 0.00                    |
| Sikkim               | 7096                    | 3358                          | 3359                          | -1                           | -0.01                   |
| Tamil Nadu           | 130058                  | 23844                         | 23625                         | 219                          | 0.17                    |
| Tripura              | 10486                   | 7866                          | 7977                          | -111                         | -1.06                   |
| Uttar Pradesh        | 240928                  | 14349                         | 14338                         | 11                           | 0.00                    |
| Uttarakhand          | 53483                   | 24508                         | 24496                         | 12                           | 0.02                    |
| West Bengal          | 88752                   | 16805                         | 12995                         | 3810                         | 4.29                    |
| Andaman & Nicobar    | 8249                    | 6711                          | 6724                          | -13                          | -0.16                   |
| Chandigarh           | 114                     | 17.26                         | 17                            | 0.26                         | 0.23                    |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 491                     | 213                           | 211                           | 2                            | 0.41                    |
| Daman & Diu          | 112                     | 9.27                          | 6.15                          | 3.12                         | 2.92                    |
| Lakshadweep          | 32                      | 27.06                         | 27.06                         | 0                            | 0.19                    |
| Puducherry           | 480                     | 50.06                         | 50.06                         | 0                            | 0.01                    |
| **Grand Total**      | **3287263**             | **697898**                    | **692027**                    | **5871**                     | **0.18**                |

**Annexure II**

**Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 306 due for answer on 11.08.2015 regarding ‘Decline in forest cover’**

**States showing decline in forest cover and reasons for loss**

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| **Sl.                                                                   No.**   | **States/UTs**    | **Change (square kilometers)**   | **Reasons for loss**                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1                                                                               | Nagaland          | -274                             | Biotic pressure, shortening of shifting cultivation cycle.                         |
| 2                                                                               | Andhra Pradesh    | -273                             | Rotational felling mainly of fast growing species, open cast mining, encroachments |
| 3                                                                               | Madhya Pradesh    | -178                             | Submerge of area, mining, encroachments                                            |
| 4                                                                               | Tripura           | -111                             | Shifting cultivation practices.                                                    |
| 5                                                                               | Manipur           | -100                             | Shifting cultivation practices.                                                    |
| 6                                                                               | Arunachal Pradesh | -89                              | Shifting cultivation practices.                                                    |
| 7                                                                               | Mizoram           | -63                              | Shifting cultivation practices.                                                    |
| 8                                                                               | Karnataka         | -62                              | Rotational felling                                                                 |
| 9                                                                               | Chhattisgarh      | -53                              | Developmental activities, mining, encroachments                                    |
| 10                                                                              | Haryana           | -22                              | Developmental activities, Rotational felling                                       |
| 11                                                                              | Maharashtra       | -14                              | Encroachments etc.                                                                 |
| 12                                                                              | A&N Islands       | -13                              | Drying up of mangroves after Tsunami                                               |
| 13                                                                              | Others            | -5                               |                                                                                    |
|                                                                                 | **Total**         | **-1,257**                       |                                                                                    |

**Annexure III**

**Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 306 due for answer on 11.08.2015 regarding ‘Decline in forest cover’**

**List of States who have furnished digital boundaries of Recorded Forest Area (RFA) to Forest Survey of India**

|   **S. No.** | **States**     |
|--------------|----------------|
|            1 | Andhra Pradesh |
|            2 | Kerala         |
|            3 | Karnataka      |
|            4 | Uttarakhand    |
|            5 | Gujarat        |
|            6 | Tamil Nadu     |
|            7 | Rajasthan      |
|            8 | Haryana        |
|            9 | Jharkhand      |
|           10 | Chhattisgarh   |
|           11 | West Bengal    |
|           12 | Madhya Pradesh |

| **Annexure IV**  **Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 306 due for answer on 11.08.2015 regarding ‘Decline in forest cover’**  **Funds Sanctioned and Utilized under the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme for the last three year and current year.**   |                   |                   |                   |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
| **(Rs. in lakhs)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                   |                   |                   |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |
| **S. No**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | **States**        |                   |                   | **2012-13**           |                     | **2013-14**           |                     | **2014-15**           |                     | **2015-16**           |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                   |                   |                   | **Amount Sanctioned** | **Amount Utilized** | **Amount Sanctioned** | **Amount Utilized** | **Amount Sanctioned** | **Amount Utilized** | **Amount Sanctioned** |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Andhra Pradesh    | Andhra Pradesh    | Andhra Pradesh    | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 351.36                | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Bihar             | Bihar             | Bihar             | 0.00*                 | 11.55               | 127.30                | 47.74               | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Chhattisgarh      | Chhattisgarh      | Chhattisgarh      | 832.19                | 347.99              | 881.07                | 380.08              | 727.44                | 422.21              | NA                    |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Gujarat           | Gujarat           | Gujarat           | 547.05                | 243.10              | 576.27                | 345.76              | 582.86                | 312.57              | NA                    |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Goa               | Goa               | Goa               | 39.07                 | 11.72               | 101.94                | 32.20               | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Haryana           | Haryana           | Haryana           | 137.13                | 102.85              | 204.86                | 153.64              | 249.27                | 149.56              | NA                    |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Himachal Pradesh  | Himachal Pradesh  | Himachal Pradesh  | 316.05                | 303.90              | 508.41                | 364.40              | 510.22                | 357.82              | 272.97                |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu and Kashmir | Jammu and Kashmir | 292.71                | 183.39              | 294.67                | 101.67              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Jharkhand         | Jharkhand         | Jharkhand         | 439.32                | 174.53              | 662.47                | 386.00              | 524.18                | 244.85              | NA                    |
| 10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Karnataka         | Karnataka         | Karnataka         | 529.93                | 380.45              | 569.13                | 341.47              | 444.24                | 266.54              | NA                    |
| 11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Kerala            | Kerala            | Kerala            | 365.66                | 203.94              | 450.37                | 223.41              | 384.28                | 188.47              | NA                    |
| 12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Madhya Pradesh    | Madhya Pradesh    | Madhya Pradesh    | 1184.40               | 888.30              | 1240.26               | 740.30              | 1174.88               | 704.93              | NA                    |
| 13                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Maharashtra       | Maharashtra       | Maharashtra       | 449.02                | 269.42              | 223.44                | 95.96               | 380.03                | 228.02              | NA                    |
| 14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Orissa            | Orissa            | Orissa            | 499.28                | 149.79              | 338.75                | 203.25              | 367.50                | 220.50              | NA                    |
| 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Punjab            | Punjab            | Punjab            | 121.66                | 66.85               | 0.00                  |                     | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Rajasthan         | Rajasthan         | Rajasthan         | 353.11                | 225.93              | 306.55                | 156.20              | 388.04                | 190.58              | NA                    |
| 17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Tamil Nadu        | Tamil Nadu        | Tamil Nadu        | 381.15                | 174.65              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 18                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Telangana         | Telangana         | Telangana         |                       |                     |                       |                     | 267.88                | 64.17               | NA                    |
| 19                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Uttar Pradesh     | Uttar Pradesh     | Uttar Pradesh     | 244.66                | 146.80              | 282.90                | 169.74              | 363.93                | 218.13              | NA                    |
| 20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Uttarakhand       | Uttarakhand       | Uttarakhand       | 486.78                | 336.71              | 434.87                | 307.29              | 469.98                | 302.87              | 443.78                |
| 21                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | West Bengal       | West Bengal       | West Bengal       | 248.33                | 78.62               | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 309.73                | 29.76               | 0                     |
| **Total**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                   |                   |                   | **7467.50**           | **4300.48**         | **7554.62**           | **4049.11**         | **7144.46**           | **3900.98**         | **716.75**            |
| **North Eastern States**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                   |                   |                   |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 1                 | Assam             | 0.00              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 2                 | Arunachal Pradesh | 383.62            | 383.62                | 303.27              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 322.76                | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 3                 | Manipur           | 348.26            | 348.26                | 250.74              | 409.53                | 294.86              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 267.51                |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 4                 | Meghalaya         | 228.87            | 228.87                | 164.78              | 340.04                | 244.83              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 250.35                |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 5                 | Mizoram           | 438.30            | 438.30                | 315.58              | 505.04                | 363.63              | 355.93                | 256.27              | 170.19                |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 6                 | Nagaland          | 0.00              | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 324.27                | 145.92              | 312.68                | 0.00                | 0                     |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 7                 | Sikkim            | 139.77            | 139.77                | 98.15               | 234.69                | 168.98              | 394.17                | 0.00                | 0                     |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 8                 | Tripura           | 486.99            | 486.99                | 332.40              | 451.22                | 184.81              | 364.00                | 238.63              | 189.59                |
| **Total**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                   |                   | **2025.81**       |                       | **1464.92**         | **2264.79**           | **1403.03**         | **1749.54**           | **494.90**          | **877.64**            |

| **S. No**                                                                          | **UTs**     | **2012-13**           |                     | **2013-14**           |                     | **2014-15**           |                     | **2015-16**           |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|                                                                                    |             | **Amount Sanctioned** | **Amount Utilized** | **Amount Sanctioned** | **Amount Utilized** | **Amount Sanctioned** | **Amount Utilized** | **Amount Sanctioned** |
| 1                                                                                  | Chandigarh  | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 2                                                                                  | D&N Haveli  | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 3                                                                                  | Daman & Diu | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 4                                                                                  | Lakshadweep | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 5                                                                                  | Delhi       | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | NA                    |
| 6                                                                                  | Puducherry  | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 0.00                  | 0.00                | 83.76                 | 0.00                | NA                    |
| **Total**                                                                          |             | **60.06**             | **0.00**            | **51.77**             | **6.51**            | **83.76**             | **0.00**            |                       |
| **Grand total**                                                                    |             | **9553.37**           | **5765.40**         | **9871.18**           | **5458.65**         | **8977.76**           | **4395.88**         | **1594.39**           |
| **NA: For the current year 2015-16, proposals are currently under consideration.** |             |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |                     |                       |

* The amount was revalidated from the unspent balance of the previous year.