New Delhi, December 2, 2024: Total forest cover of India is 7,13,789 square kilometer, which is 21.71 per cent of the geographical area of the country.
Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment of forest cover biennially, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said today.

As per the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,789 square kilometer which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country.
The forest and tree cover has increased by 7449 square kilometer as per the assessment in India State of Forest Report 2021 in comparison to assessment in ISFR 2017. As there is no loss of forest and tree cover, the question of increase in emission of carbon dioxide due to loss of forest and tree cover does not arise, he said.
The contradiction between India State of Forest Report 2021 and Global Forest Watch data may be due to difference in the definition of forest cover and tree cover adopted in these two reports, the Union Minister added.
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, was amended through a gazette notification dated August 4, 2023 and the revised provisions came into effect from December 1, 2023.
The amendments are being implemented to promote the conservation, management and restoration of forests, support ecologically sustainable development, ensure ecological security, preserve cultural and traditional values related to forests and address economic needs while advancing carbon neutrality.
The State/UT wise details of forest cover in the country during the last five years are as follows
(Area in square kilometre)
State/UT | Geographical Area | ISFR 2017 | ISFR 2019 | ISFR 2021 |
Andhra Pradesh | 1,62,968 | 28,147 | 29,137 | 29,784 |
Arunachal Pradesh | 83,743 | 66,964 | 66,688 | 66,431 |
Assam | 78,438 | 28,105 | 28,327 | 28,312 |
Bihar | 94,163 | 7,299 | 7,306 | 7,381 |
Chhattisgarh | 1,35,192 | 55,547 | 55,611 | 55,717 |
Delhi | 1,483 | 192.41 | 195.44 | 195 |
Goa | 3,702 | 2,229 | 2,237 | 2,244 |
Gujarat | 1,96,244 | 14,757 | 14,857 | 14,926 |
Haryana | 44,212 | 1,588 | 1,602 | 1,603 |
Himachal Pradesh | 55,673 | 15,100 | 15,434 | 15,443 |
Jharkhand | 79,716 | 23,553 | 23,611 | 23,721 |
Karnataka | 1,91,791 | 37,550 | 38,575 | 38,730 |
Kerala | 38,852 | 20,321 | 21,144 | 21,253 |
Madhya Pradesh | 3,08,252 | 77,414 | 77,482 | 77,493 |
Maharashtra | 3,07,713 | 50,682 | 50,778 | 50,798 |
Manipur | 22,327 | 17,346 | 16,847 | 16,598 |
Meghalaya | 22,429 | 17,146 | 17,119 | 17,046 |
Mizoram | 21,081 | 18,186 | 18,006 | 17,820 |
Nagaland | 16,579 | 12,489 | 12,486 | 12,251 |
Odisha | 1,55,707 | 51,345 | 51,619 | 52,156 |
Punjab | 50,362 | 1,837 | 1,849 | 1,847 |
Rajasthan | 3,42,239 | 16,572 | 16,630 | 16,655 |
Sikkim | 7,096 | 3,344 | 3,342 | 3,341 |
Tamil Nadu | 1,30,060 | 26,281 | 26,364 | 26,419 |
Telangana | 1,12,077 | 20,419 | 20,582 | 21,214 |
Tripura | 10,486 | 7,726 | 7,726 | 7,722 |
Uttar Pradesh | 2,40,928 | 14,679 | 14,806 | 14,818 |
Uttarakhand | 53,483 | 24,295 | 24,303 | 24,305 |
West Bengal | 88,752 | 16,847 | 16,902 | 16,832 |
A & N Islands | 8,249 | 6,742 | 6,743 | 6,744 |
Chandigarh | 114 | 21.56 | 22.03 | 22.88 |
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman& Diu | 602 | 227.49 | 227.49 | 227.75 |
Jammu & Kashmir ** | 2,22,236 | 23,241 | 21,358 | 21,287 |
Ladakh | 2,254 | 2,272 | ||
Lakshadweep | 30 | 27.10 | 27.10 | 27.10 |
Puducherry | 490 | 53.67 | 52.41 | 53.30 |
Grand Total | 3,287,469 | 7,08,273 | 7,12,249 | 713,789 |
** From ISFR 2019 onwards Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two UTs viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
More Stories
Cong fails to open account in Mayor Elections
In a humiliating defeat Congress party today failed to even open account in the Mayor elections in Chhattisgarh as with a clean sweep ruling BJP won in all the 10 municipal corporations of the state.
Chhattisgarh a state with immense potential in mineral resources: Secretary P. Dayanand
P Dayanand, Secretary to the Chief Minister and State Mineral Department Secretary today categorically stated that Chhattisgarh is a state with immense potential in terms of mineral resources, which provides an opportunity for extensive development in the field of industry, trade, and employment.
Chhattisgarh cancels lease deed of four industries; notice to 300 industrial units
Chhattisgarh Government has cancelled the lease deed of four industries due to outstanding amount of crores of rupees of land revenue and maintenance charges, while notices have been issued to about 300 industrial units for not paying the outstanding amount.
Dereliction in election duty: 2 Govt employees suspend, notice to 118
Two Chhattisgarh government employees have been suspended for dereliction in election duty, while show cause notices have been issued to 118 officers and employees for adopting non-serious attitude towards the election works.
Secretary to CM P Dayanand inspects Chhattisgarh Pavilion at Prayagraj Mahakumbh
P Dayanand, Secretary to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, today visited Chhattisgarh Pavilion at Prayagraj Mahakumbh and inquired about the facilities being provided to the devotees going for Kumbh Snan from the state.
Chhattisgarh Registers 47 % Decline in Maoists Violence
Despite there is a decline in Maoists violence in Chhattisgarh, but the state had witnessed 267 Maoists related violence last year when the all India figure was 486 during the same period.