21.71% Forest Cover in India

     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)

** From ISFR 2019 onwards Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two UTs viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.