India records marginal increase in forest cover

India records marginal increase in forest cover

Context:

According to the biennial India State of Forest Report (SFR) 2017, India has recorded a marginal increase in forest cover.

Findings of the Survey:

• According to the Survey, India has about 7, 08,273 square kilometres of forest, which is 21.53% of the geographic area of the country (32, 87,569 sq. km).
• The category of ‘very dense forest’ saw a dramatic rise from 85,904 square kilometres to 98,158 square kilometres in 2017.
• However, the category of ‘moderately dense forest’ (40%-70%) saw a 7,056 square kilometre-decline from 2015.
• The survey has found that India’s bamboo bearing area rose by 1.73 million hectares (2011) to 15.69 million hectares (2017).

Note: Earlier this year, the government ceased to define bamboo as a tree to promote economic activity among tribals.

• 15 States and union territories have 33% of their geographical area under forests.
• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have topped the States that posted an increase in forest cover.
• Much of this increase can be attributed to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest areas as well as an improvement in interpretation of satellite data.
• However, in North-east India, forest cover has shown a decrease.
• In 2017, 65.34%, of the geographical area was under forest in the north-east- a 630 square kilometre decline from the 2015 survey.

About the Survey:

• The forest survey for the first time has mapped 633 districts
• It has relied on satellite mapping