ISFR 2021: Andhra, Telangana forest cover increases in 5 years; Delhi’s declines
India's total forest cover stands at 7,13,789 square kilometers
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 3 Dec 2024 5:37 AM GMT
Representational Image.
New Delhi: The forest cover of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has increased in five years.
According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, Andhra Pradesh has a Geographical Area of 1,62,968 square kilometers.
ISFR 2021 shows that Andhra’s forest cover increased to 29,137 square kilometers from 28,784 sq km in 2019. Likewise in 2017, the forest cover was 28,147 sq km.
Telangana has a Geographical Area of 1,12,077 square kilometers. ISFR 2021 shows the state’s forest cover increased to 21,214 square kilometers from 20,582 in 2019, and 20,419 sq km in 2017.
According to ISFR 2021, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest and tree cover of 77,493 square kilometers, while Chandigarh has the lowest forest cover of 22.88 square kilometers.
Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Delhi are among the lowest forest cover. Forest cover of Delhi which is currently witnessing poor air quality, affecting lakhs of people has declined to 195 square kilometers in 2021 from 195.44 in 2019. Its total Geographical area is 1,483 square kilometers.
India's total forest cover stands at 7,13,789 square kilometers, constituting 21.71% of the nation’s geographical area. The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, a body under the Ministry, conducts biennial assessments of the country's forest cover.
The ISFR 2021 highlights a net increase of 7,449 square kilometers in forest and tree cover compared to the ISFR 2017 assessment. Consequently, as there has been no recorded loss in forest or tree cover, the question of increased carbon dioxide emissions due to such loss does not arise.
The discrepancies between ISFR 2021 and Global Forest Watch data likely stem from differing definitions of forest cover and tree cover adopted by the two reports.
Additionally, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, was amended through a gazette notification on August 4, 2023, with the revised provisions coming into effect on December 1, 2023. These amendments aim to strengthen the conservation, management, and restoration of forests, promote ecologically sustainable development, safeguard ecological security, preserve cultural and traditional values associated with forests, and support economic needs while advancing carbon neutrality goals.
