Lok Sabha Question No. 2867 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Forest Cover Change Alert System
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2867

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016

## Forest Cover Change Alert System

## 2867.   SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  developed  Indian  Forest  Cover  Change  Alert  System (InFCCAS) and if so, the salient features thereof;
- (b) whether  the  InFCCAS  has  been  effective  in  terms  of  improving  the  efficiency  and effectiveness of existing forest monitoring capabilities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of locations in the country where forest cover losses have been indicated as a result of InFCCAs during each of the last three years, State-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  InFCCAS  provides  real  time  alert/information  about  incidences  such  as forest encroachments, mining in forest areas and shifting cultivation and if so, the details of such incidents that have occurred in the country during the said period, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) This  Ministry  has  not  developed  any  'Indian  Forest  Cover  Change  Alert  System' (InFCCAS). However, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has undertaken the development of methodology for use of satellite data for forest cover change alert system. The  Indian  Forest  Cover  change  alert  system  (INFOCCAS)  aims  at  semi-automated identification of forest cover change locations, on an annual basis. A pilot study has been conducted  by  Indian  Space  Research  Organization  (ISRO)/  National  Remote  Sensing Centre (NRSC) to identify each year the locations of Forest cover changes using the data over 2012-14.
- (b) The initial results are encouraging and efforts are to achieve high classification accuracies under the different forest conditions in India.
- (c) The provisional forest loss locations detected during 2013 and 2014 are 7155 and 3803 respectively. The provisional results State-wise are given in Annexure.
- (d) No. At present, the alerts describe locations on annual basis.

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## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2867 due for answer on 15.03.2016 regarding 'Forest Cover Change Alert System'.

Provisional forest loss locations (State-wise)

| State Name        |   Locations 2012 - 13 |   Locations 2013 - 14 |
|-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH |                   329 |                   800 |
| ANDHRA PRADESH    |                   267 |                    81 |
| ASSAM             |                   784 |                    66 |
| BIHAR             |                    11 |                    12 |
| CHHATTISGARH      |                   591 |                   136 |
| GOA               |                    60 |                    37 |
| GUJARAT           |                    61 |                    37 |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH  |                    80 |                    13 |
| HARYANA           |                    34 |                    15 |
| JHARKHAND         |                    67 |                    55 |
| JAMMU &KASHMIR    |                   299 |                    80 |
| KARNATAKA         |                   196 |                   125 |
| MAHARASHTRA       |                   547 |                   282 |
| MEGHALAYA         |                   241 |                    31 |
| MANIPUR           |                   207 |                   412 |
| MADHYA PRADESH    |                   618 |                   367 |
| MIZORAM           |                   194 |                   237 |
| NAGALAND          |                   368 |                   230 |
| ORISSA            |                   139 |                   157 |
| PUNJAB            |                     2 |                    15 |
| RAJASTHAN         |                    37 |                    37 |
| TRIPURA           |                   184 |                    76 |
| TELANGANA         |                  1325 |                   106 |
| UTTARANCHAL       |                   149 |                    84 |
| UTTAR PRADESH     |                    17 |                     6 |
| WEST BENGAL       |                   348 |                   306 |
| Total Locations   |                  7155 |                  3803 |