Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, carries out the assessment of forest and tree cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The forest cover assessment is a wall-to-wall mapping exercise based on remote sensing supported by intensive ground verification and field data from the National Forest Inventory.

As per ISFR 2023, the total forest and tree cover of the country is 8,27,356.95 square kilometer which is 25.17 per cent of the geographical area of the country.This includes 7,15,342.61 square kilometer as forest cover and 1,12,014.34 square kilometer as tree cover.  The current assessment shows an increase of 1445.81 square kilometer in the forest and tree cover as compared to the last assessment of 2021. This includes 156.41 square kilometer in the forest cover and 1289.4 square kilometer in the tree cover. 

There has been a net increase of 16,630.25 square kilometer in forest cover during last ten years in the country between ISFR 2013 and ISFR 2023. Hence, the forest  cover of the country is not only maintained but has shown net increase over the last decade due to implementation of various policies and programs including conservation efforts made by the respective States/UTs. There is an increasing trend of forest cover in the country since last decade.

The protection, conservation and management of forest is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forest of the country which include, the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980; the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the State Forest Acts and Rules, etc.   Further, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issues advisories to State Governments/UT Administrations to protect forests and trees.

In addition, the Ministry provides technical and financial support to the States /UTs for protection, conservation and management of the forests in the country. This includes funds from the Central Government under various schemes and programmes such as National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats and Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI). Afforestation is also carried out by the States/UTs under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). 

Further, a plantation campaign “एक पेड़ माँ के नाम #Plant4Mother” has been launched on the occasion of World Environment Day 2024 to undertake plantation activities across the country.  This campaign follows the “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach with participation of all stakeholders for increasing the green cover in the country. The campaign has contributed large scale plantation aiding the enhancement of green cover in the country and is being continued in the current year as well.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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VM/GS

(Release ID: 2147743)