Recently, the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 has been released by the Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The report, published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) since 1987, provides an in-depth assessment of forest and tree resources based on remote sensing data and field surveys. The recently released report is the 18th report in the series.
What are the key features of India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023?
The report provides comprehensive data on forest cover, tree cover, mangroves, growing stock, carbon stock, forest fires, and agroforestry. Special thematic insights into forest health and characteristics have been included in the report.
| Forest and Tree Cover | The Forest and Tree cover of the country is 8,27,357 sq. km which is 25.17 percent of the geographical area of the country. The total forest cover consists of 7,15,343 sq km (21.76% of geographical area) while the total tree cover consists of 1,12,014 sq km (3.41% of geographical area). |
| Increase in Forest and Tree Cover | There has been an increase of 1,445 sq km in forest and tree cover compared to 2021. There has been an increase of 156 sq km in the forest cover while the tree cover has increased by 1,289 sq km. Top four states showing maximum increase in forest and tree cover are Chhattisgarh (684 sq km) followed by Uttar Pradesh (559 sq km), Odisha (559 sq km) and Rajasthan (394 sq km). Top three states showing maximum increase in forest cover are Mizoram (242 sq km) followed by Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km). |
| States having largest area under Forest and Tree Cover | States having largest area under Forest and Tree Cover are Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq km) and Maharashtra (65,383 sq km). States having the largest area under Forest Cover are Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km.), Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km) and Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km). |
| States having largest percentages of geographical area under forest cover | 19 states/UTs have above 33 percent of the geographical area under forest cover. Out of these, eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent. Lakshadweep (91.33%), Mizoram (85.34%), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (81.62%) have the highest forest cover relative to geographical area. |
| Mangrove Cover | The total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km in the country. |
| Growing stock of India’s forest and trees | The total growing stock of India’s forest and trees outside forests is estimated as 6430 million cum, of which 4479 million cum is inside the forests and 1951 million cum outside the forest area. There is an increase of 262 million cum of total growing stock as compared to the previous assessment which includes an increase of 91 million cum inside the forest and 171 million cum outside the forest area. |
| Increase in Bamboo bearing area | The extent of bamboo bearing area for the country has been estimated as 1,54,670 sq km. As compared to the last assessment done in 2021 there is an increase of 5,227 sq km in bamboo area. |
| Additional Carbon Sink | Compared to the base year of 2005, India has already reached 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink as against the target of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030. |
What are the concerns highlighted by the India State of Forest Report, 2023?
1. Loss of Forest Cover in the Western Ghats- The IFSR 2023 for the first time included an assessment of forest cover across the Western Ghats. According to the report, the area earmarked as eco-sensitive zone by the Centre has seen a loss of 58.22 sq km of forest cover since 2013.
2. Loss of mangrove cover- The natural disaster and hazard-resilient mangrove species have seen a decrease of 7.43 sq km in the country compared to 2021. A prominent decrease was recorded in Gujarat at a loss of 36 sq km, followed by a 4.65 sq km decrease in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
3. Decrease in the forest cover in Northeast- The northeastern states continued to record a declining trend in forest cover. As per the 2023 assessment, the decrease of forest cover in north eastern states has been around 327.30 sq km.
4. Forest and tree cover behind the national goal- National Forest Policy, 1988 provides for having a minimum of 1/3rd of total land area of country under forest or tree cover as a national goal. However, the present forest and tree cover of the country, which is 25.17 percent of the geographical area of the country, remains behind the national goal.
What are the reasons behind the increase in forest cover in the country?
The increase in forest cover in India, as highlighted in the India State of Forest Report 2023, can be attributed to several key factors. Following are some of the factors behind the increase in forest cover in the country-
1. Afforestation Programs- Large-scale plantation drives under government schemes like National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and Green India Mission (GIM) have significantly contributed in increasing forest cover.
2. Promotion of agroforestry- The adoption of agroforestry practices, through initiatives like the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF), has encouraged farmers to grow trees alongside crops, resulting in enhanced tree cover.
3. Community Participation- The involvement of local communities through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) has boosted conservation efforts and reforestation programs in the country.
4. Technological Interventions- Use of advanced remote sensing technologies and forest monitoring systems has facilitated better forest management and detection of degraded areas for restoration.
5. Ecotourism and Awareness Campaigns- Growing awareness about biodiversity and climate change has led to enhanced participation in conservation efforts and tree-planting initiatives. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives have supported afforestation programs, adding to the green cover.
What additional measures can be taken to increase the forest cover in the country?
1. Incentives for Tree Planting- The government should provide financial incentives, tax benefits, and subsidies to individuals and organizations for tree planting. For ex- China’s Grain-for-Green Program compensates farmers for converting farmlands into forests.
2. Land Restoration Programs- The degraded lands should be restored through soil restoration and watershed management. For ex- Ethiopia’s Tigray Reforestation Project has reclaimed arid lands through terracing and tree planting.
3. Enhanced Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)- The government must collaborate with industries and NGOs for funding and implementation of green projects. For ex- The Toyota Green Wave Project in Japan supports forest restoration.
4. Seed Banks and Nurseries- Seed banks and nurseries should be established to provide quality planting material. For ex- The Millennium Seed Bank Project (UK) preserves seeds for future forest restoration.
The ISFR 2023 provides critical data for monitoring forest resources and supports policymakers, planners, researchers, and environmentalists. It highlights India’s progress in forest conservation, carbon sequestration, and sustainable management of natural resources.
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