India among top 10 nations in terms of Forest Area : Minister

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New Delhi : Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr  Harsh Vardhan on February 12, 2018, said that India has shown an increasing trend in the forest and tree cover compared to the global trend of decreasing forest cover during the last decade.

Releasing the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017 here, Dr. Harsh Vardhan pointed out that India ranks among the top ten countries of the world in terms of forest area despite the fact that none of the other 9 countries has a population density of more than 150 persons per sq km compared to India, which has a population density of 382 persons per sq km.

“India is ranked 10^th in the world, with 24.4% of land area under forest and tree cover, even though it accounts for 2.4 % of the world surface area and sustains the needs of 17 % of human and 18 % livestock population,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan.  He that as per the latest FAO report, India is placed 8^th in the list of Top Ten nations reporting the greatest annual net gain in forest area.

Quoting figures from the India State of Forest Report 2017, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that the latest assessment shows that there is an increase of 8, 021 sq km (about 80.20 million hectare) in the total forest and tree cover of the country compared to the previous assessment in 2015.  He added that the increase in the forest cover has been observed as 6,778 sq km and that of tree cover as 1, 243 sq km. “The total forest and tree cover is 24.39 % of the geographical area of the country,” he pointed out.

He also underlined the encouraging sign that much of the increase in the forest cover has been observed in Very Dense Forest (VDF) as VDF absorbs maximum carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Giving the State-wise break-up, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that three states  – Andhra Pradesh (2,141 sq km) followed by Karnataka (1,101 sq km) and Kerala (1,043 sq km) have shown the maximum increase in forest cover.

“Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover of 77,414 sq km in the country in terms of area followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 66,964 sq km and Chhattisgarh (55,547 sq km). In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to the total geographical area, Lakshadweep with (90.33 %) has the highest forest cover followed by Mizoram (86.27 %) and Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.73 %),” Dr Harsh Vardhan said, according to a PIB release.  Referring to the enormity of the task of preparing the State of Forest  Report, the Minister said, “Work has already started for preparing ISFR 2019”.

Fifteen states/UT’s have above 33 % of the geographical area under forest cover. As per the ISFR 2017, the total mangrove cover stands at 4,921 sq km and has shown an increase of 181 sq km. The extent of bamboo-bearing area in the country has been estimated at 15.69 million ha. In comparison to the last assessment done in 2011, there has been an increase of 1.73 million ha in bamboo area.