Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's response to questions regarding the development of forest cover in India, including state-wise data for Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand. It details changes in forest cover over the last four years (ISFR 2019-2023), the reasons for these changes, and measures taken for forest protection. It also outlines schemes implemented to increase forest cover and develop new forest areas.
Key Points / Main Content:
Forest Cover Assessment:
* The Forest Survey of India (FSI) biennially assesses forest and tree cover, publishing findings in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
* ISFR 2023 indicates a forest cover of 7,15,342.61 sq km, which is 21.76% of India's geographical area.
* Forest cover increased by 3,093.61 sq km between ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2023, including increases of 86.22 sq km in Tamil Nadu and 154.78 sq km in Jharkhand.
* Increase is attributed to conservation efforts, afforestation, improved protection, increase in trees outside forest areas and regeneration of land under shifting cultivation.
Protection and Management:
* States and UTs are primarily responsible for forest protection, conservation, and management.
* Legal frameworks include the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980; the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; and State Forest Acts and Rules.
* The Ministry issues advisories to States and UTs for forest protection.
* FSI monitors changes in forest and tree cover biennially using satellite data and ground truthing.
Schemes and Initiatives:
* Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) aims to develop 600 Nagar Van and 400 Nagar Vatika between 2020-21 and 2026-27 to enhance green cover in cities.
* 385 projects under NVY have been approved across 22 States and UTs in the last three years.
* The Ministry provides technical and financial support through schemes like National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM), Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, and Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI).
* Afforestation is carried out under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
* Plant4Mother plantation campaign was launched on World Environment Day 2024.
Impact Analysis:
States and Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for the protection, conservation, and management of forests. They can receive technical and financial support from the Ministry for implementing various schemes.
* Action Required: Implement legal frameworks, adhere to Ministry advisories, submit Annual Plans of Operation to access scheme benefits, and participate in initiatives like Nagar Van Yojana and Plant4Mother.
Forest Survey of India (FSI):
* Impact: Mandated to conduct biennial assessments of forest and tree cover and monitor changes using satellite data and ground truthing.
* Action Required: Continue biennial assessments and provide data to inform policy and management decisions.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Responsible for providing policy guidance, financial assistance, and monitoring the overall forest cover and related initiatives in the country.
* Action Required: Continue providing support to States and UTs, monitor the implementation of schemes, and issue advisories for forest protection.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and forestry.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, specifically mentioned in the context of forest cover and related schemes.
Jharkhand: A state in eastern India, specifically mentioned in the context of forest cover and related schemes.
Forest Survey of India, Dehradun: An organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for assessing forest and tree cover in India. Dehradun is a city in Uttarakhand.
India State of Forest Report: A biennial report published by the Forest Survey of India assessing the state of forests in India.
Nagar Van Yojana: A scheme to enhance green cover in and around various cities in India.
National Mission for a Green India: A scheme by the Ministry to increase forest cover in India.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority: An authority that manages funds for afforestation activities in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2339
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Development of Forest Cover
2339. DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:
SHRI K GOPINATH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of the forest cover in the country, State-wise including Tamil Nadu and
Jharkhand;
(b) the details of forest cover increased/decreased during the last three years along with
the reasons therefor, State/ UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand;
(c) the measures taken by the Government for the protection of forest cover in the country
including said States;
(d) whether there is any monitoring mechanism to oversee the changes in forest cover in
the said States and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the details of the Schemes implemented by the Government during the last three years
to increase forest cover and develop new forest areas in various cities of the country,
State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand; and
(f) whether the Government has any Scheme to increase forest coverage on the basis of
their utility and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise particularly in Tamil Nadu and
Jharkhand?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) 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 forest cover of the country is 7,15,342.61 square kilometer
which is 21.76% of the total geographical area of the country. In the last four years,
the forest cover has increased from 7,12,249.00 square kilometer in ISFR 2019 to
7,15,342.61 square kilometer in ISFR 2023. Between ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2023, the
country’s forest cover has increased by 3,093.61 square kilometers, that includes
increase of 86.22 square kilometers in Tamil Nadu and 154.78 square kilometers in
Jharkhand.The increase in country’s forest cover is attributed to the factors such as natural
vegetation growth due to conservation efforts, afforestation initiatives, improved
protection in forest and plantation areas, increase in trees outside forest areas, and
the regeneration of land under shifting cultivation. The State/UT-wise forest cover
including Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand is given in Annexure I.
(c) to (f) The protection, conservation and management of forest is primarily the
responsibility of the States and UTs. 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
issues advisories to States and UTs to protect forests. To monitor changes in forest
and tree cover, FSI carries out biennial assessment across the country using satellite
data combined with ground truthing.
Further, Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) envisages developing 600 Nagar Van and 400
Nagar Vatika in the country including Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand between the period
of 2020-21 to 2026-27 with an objective to enhance the green cover in and around
various cities. During the last three years, the Ministry has approved a total of 385
projects under the Nagar Van Yojana across 22 States and UTs, including Tamil
Nadu and Jharkhand. The State/UT-wise details of projects approved under Nagar
Van Yojana in the last three years are given in Annexure II.
The Ministry also provides technical and financial support to the States and UTs for
protection, conservation and management of the forests in the country. This includes
various schemes and programmes such as National Mission for a Green India (GIM),
Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM), Integrated Development of
Wildlife Habitats and Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible
Incomes (MISHTI). Afforestation is also carried out by the States and UTs under the
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
The above schemes and programmes are for all States and UTs, and approvals under
the schemes are granted based on the Annual Plans of Operation submitted by the
respective States/UTs. However, MISHTI programme is for restoration of degraded
mangroves across coastal States and UTs.
In addition to above, 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.
******Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply of (a) to (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
2339 due for answer on 04.08.2025 regarding ‘Development of Forest Cover’ asked
by Dr. Nishikant Dubey and Shri K Gopinath.
State/UT wise details of Forest Cover in ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2023
(In square
kilometer)
S.No. State/UT Forest Cover Forest Cover Change in Forest
(ISFR 2019) (ISFR 2023) Cover
1 Andhra Pradesh 29,137.00 30,084.96 947.96
2 Arunachal Pradesh 66,688.00 65,881.57 -806.43
3 Assam 28,327.00 28,313.555 -13.45
4 Bihar 7,306.00 7,532.45 226.45
5 Chhattisgarh 55,611.00 55,811.75 200.75
6 Delhi 195.44 195.28 -0.16
7 Goa 2,237.00 2,265.72 28.72
8 Gujarat 14,857.00 15,016.64 159.64
9 Haryana 1,602.00 1,614.26 12.26
10 Himachal Pradesh 15,434.00 15,580.35 146.35
11 Jharkhand 23,611.00 23,765.78 154.78
12 Karnataka 38,575.00 39,254.27 679.27
13 Kerala 21,144.00 22,059.36 915.36
14 Madhya Pradesh 77,482.00 77,073.44 -408.56
15 Maharashtra 50,778.00 50,858.53 80.53
16 Manipur 16,847.00 16,585.46 -261.54
17 Meghalaya 17,119.00 16,966.84 -152.16
18 Mizoram 18,006.00 17,990.46 -15.54
19 Nagaland 12,486.00 12,222.47 -263.53
20 Odisha 51,619.00 52,433.56 814.56
21 Punjab 1,849.00 1,846.09 -2.91
22 Rajasthan 16,630.00 16,548.21 -81.79
23 Sikkim 3,342.00 3,358.40 16.40
24 Tamil Nadu 26,364.00 26,450.22 86.22
25 Telangana 20,582.00 21,179.04 597.04
26 Tripura 7,726.00 7,584.77 -141.23
27 Uttar Pradesh 14,806.00 15,045.80 239.80
28 Uttarakhand 24,303.00 24,303.83 0.83
29 West Bengal 16,902.00 16,832.33 -69.67
30 A&N Islands 6,743.00 6,732.92 -10.08
31 Chandigarh 22.03 25 2.97
32 Dadra & Nagar 207 225.62 18.62
Haveli
Daman & Diu 20.49 -20.49
33 Jammu & Kashmir 21,122.00 21,346.39 224.39
34 Ladakh 2,490.00 2,285.92 -204.08
35 Lakshadweep 27.1 27.06 -0.04
36 Puducherry 52.41 44.31 -8.10
Grand Total 7,12,249.00 7,15,342.61 3,093.61Annexure-II
Annexure referred to in reply of (c) to (f) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
2339 due for answer on 04.08.2025 regarding ‘Development of Forest Cover’ asked
by Dr. Nishikant Dubey and Shri K Gopinath.
State/UT-wise projects approved under Nagar Van Yojana in the last three years
Year Year Year
S.No. State/UT Total
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 Andhra Pradesh 3 45 11 59
2 Arunachal Pradesh 1 0 0 1
3 Bihar 4 0 0 4
4 Chandigarh 1 0 0 1
5 Gujarat 6 0 1 7
6 Himachal Pradesh 4 0 0 4
7 Jammu & Kashmir 15 0 23 38
8 Jharkhand 26 0 0 26
9 Karnataka 0 4 19 23
10 Madhya Pradesh 16 0 39 55
11 Maharashtra 3 0 0 3
12 Meghalaya 2 0 0 2
13 Mizoram 14 0 0 14
14 Nagaland 0 24 0 24
15 Punjab 0 10 0 10
16 Rajasthan 8 1 9 18
17 Sikkim 5 0 4 9
18 Tamil Nadu 5 0 0 5
19 Telangana 46 0 14 60
20 Uttar Pradesh 1 0 7 8
21 Uttarakhand 2 0 0 2
22 West Bengal 2 10 0 12
Total 164 94 127 385