How to expand India’s forest cover

Recently Forest Survey of India (FSI) published India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021.

About India State of Forest Report (ISFR):

• India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is a biennial survey of India’s forests and tree resources.
• The First India State of Forest Report was published in 1987.
• The India State of Forest Report is prepared by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which has been mandated to assess the forest and tree resources of the country.
• India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 is the 17th ISFR published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).

Major Findings of ISFR 2021:

• Increase in total Forest and Tree Cover: As compared to the assessment of 2019 (ISFR-2019), there is an increase of 2,261 sq km in the total forest and tree cover of the country.
• Out of this, the increase in the forest cover has been observed as 1,540 sq km and that in tree cover is 721 sq km.
• The total forest cover of the country is 21.71% of the geographical area; the tree cover is estimated at 2.91% of the geographical area. Thus, the total forest and tree cover comes to 24.62% of the geographical area of the country.
• Increase in forest cover (Top States): Increase in forest cover has been observed in the open forest followed by very dense forests. As per ISFR-2021, the top three states showing an increase in forest cover are:
• Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km)
• Telangana (632 sq km)
• Odisha (537 sq km)
• Area-wise Forest Cover: ISFR 2021 reports that area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.
• Percentage-wise Forest Cover: In terms of forest cover as a percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are:
• Mizoram (84.53%),
• Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%),
• Meghalaya (76.00%),
• Manipur (74.34%) and
• Nagaland (73.90%).
• Loss of forest cover: The northeast reported the biggest overall loss of forest cover at 1,020 sq km. Though the area has 23.75% of total forest cover, states have lost their cover:
• Mizoram (1.03%)
• Arunachal Pradesh (0.39%)
• Manipur (1.48 %)
• Meghalaya (0.43%)
• Nagaland (1.88%)

This decline caused by natural calamities, shifting agriculture and deforestation will affect the region’s water resources and will have an increased effect on landslides.