**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to LOK Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2372 regarding encroachment on forest land, to be answered on December 15, 2025. It outlines measures taken to prevent deforestation, assess forest cover decline, address human-wildlife conflict, and monitor afforestation efforts. The response indicates that state governments and UT administrations are primarily responsible for forest protection.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibility for Forest Protection:**
* State Governments and UT Administrations are primarily responsible, acting under relevant laws (Indian Forest Act, Wildlife (Protection) Act, etc.).
* The Ministry issues advisories for encroachment prevention and removal.
* States conduct surveys, demarcate boundaries, patrol areas using modern tools (GIS, GPS, remote sensing), and deploy vigilance teams.
* Joint Forest Management, awareness activities, and community participation are promoted.
* **Assessment of Forest Cover:**
* The India State of Forest Report 2023 indicates an increase in forest cover compared to the 2021 report (ISFR-2021).
* Positive changes are due to natural growth, afforestation, protection of plantations, and regeneration in shifting cultivation areas.
* Negative changes result from harvesting of short-rotation plantations, shifting cultivation, encroachment, and natural calamities.
* **Addressing Human-Wildlife Conflict:**
* A comprehensive set of measures has been formulated, including advisories and detailed guidelines issued to States and UTs.
* Species-specific guidelines to strengthen site-level responses have been issued.
* Chief Wildlife Wardens are empowered to permit controlled intervention in cases where Schedule I or II animals pose a danger.
* A network of protected areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries) exists to ensure better management of wildlife habitats.
* **Monitoring Afforestation and Forest Conservation:**
* The Ministry provides technical and financial support to States and UTs through various Central Government schemes (National Mission for a Green India, Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme, etc.).
* The Forest Survey of India (FSI) employs remote sensing technology, ground verification, and field data to assess changes in forest cover.
* Modern tools (GIS-based mapping, GPS-enabled data collection, satellite monitoring) ensure accurate and timely assessment.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and UT Administrations**
* *Impact:* Primarily responsible for forest protection and management.
* *Action Required:* Enforce relevant laws, implement Ministry advisories, conduct surveys and patrols, and promote community participation.
**Chief Wildlife Wardens**
* *Impact:* Empowered to permit controlled intervention in human-wildlife conflict situations.
* *Action Required:* Exercise authority judiciously in accordance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
**Forest Survey of India (FSI)**
* *Impact:* Responsible for assessing forest cover changes and monitoring afforestation progress.
* *Action Required:* Utilize advanced technology and data collection methods to provide accurate and timely assessments.
**Local Communities**
* *Impact:* Involvement in Joint Forest Management and awareness activities.
* *Action Required:* Participate in community programs and protection of forests.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the questions related to encroachment on forest land.
India State of Forest Report: A key report published by the Forest Survey of India that provides data on forest cover and changes, used for assessing the situation.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Legislation used by State Governments and UT Administrations to act against encroachment and illegal felling.
Indian Forest Act, 1927: Legislation used by State Governments and UT Administrations to act against encroachment and illegal felling.
Van (Sanrakshan Evm Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980: Legislation used by State Governments and UT Administrations to act against encroachment and illegal felling.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2372
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
Encroachment on Forest Land
2372. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the concrete measures being taken by the Government to prevent encroachment on forest
land and deforestation, particularly in those States where this problem is more severe;
(b) whether any special study has been conducted to assess the decline in forest cover and its
environmental impact, based on the latest data from the India State of Forest Report, 2021;
(c) whether any comprehensive action plan has been formulated to check the increasing
incidents of human–wildlife conflict in wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas; and
(d) whether the Government is developing any special technology-based mechanism to
monitor the progress of implementation of afforestation and forest conservation schemes?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Forest protection and management are primarily the responsibility of State Governments
and UT Administrations, which act against encroachment and illegal felling under the Indian
Forest Act, 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Van (Sanrakshan Evm Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam1980 and State Forest Acts/Rules. Under the relevant provisions of these acts, the
states take necessary action through the relevant authorities. The Ministry has issued advisories
for removal and prevention of encroachments. States also carry out surveys, demarcate
boundaries, fix pillars and conduct regular patrolling, supported by modern tools such as GIS,
remote sensing and GPS.To prevent illegal felling, States also undertake patrolling, operate
anti-poaching camps and check posts, deploy vigilance teams and conduct inspections. They
also promote Joint Forest Management, awareness activities and community participation to
strengthen forest protection.
(b) As per the India State of Forest Report-2023 published by the Forest Survey of India,
Dehradun, the forest cover in the country have increased as compared to the assessment
published in ISFR-2021. As per India State of Forest Report 2023, the positive changes in
forest cover arise due to natural growth of vegetation, afforestation initiatives, improved
protection of plantations and forest areas, increase in trees outside forests, and regeneration in
shifting cultivation areas, while negative changes occur due to harvesting of short-rotation
plantations, shifting cultivation, encroachment and natural calamities such as storms, floods
and landslides.
(c) A comprehensive set of measures has been formulated to address the increasing incidents
of human–wildlife conflict in wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas. The Ministry has issuedan advisory on managing human–wildlife conflict (February 2021) and followed it with
detailed guidelines to States and Union Territories on 3rd June 2022, including measures to
reduce conflict and mitigate crop damage. Species-specific guidelines were also issued on 21st
March 2023 to strengthen site-level responses.Further, under Section 11 of the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972, Chief Wildlife Wardens are empowered to permit controlled
intervention in cases where Schedule I or II animals pose a danger to human life or property.
Additionally, a robust network of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves
and Community Reserves has been established to ensure better protection and management of
wildlife habitats, thereby reducing conflict at the source.
(d) The Ministry provides technical and financial support to States and UTs through various
Central Government schemes—such as the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Forest
Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), Mangrove
Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), and the Integrated
Development of Wildlife Habitats—for the enhancement, protection, conservation and
management of forests. In addition, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) employs advanced remote
sensing technology, supported by intensive ground verification and field data collected through
the National Forest Inventory, to assess periodic changes in forest and tree cover. These
modern tools, including GIS-based mapping, GPS-enabled field data collection, digital
reporting platforms and satellite monitoring, ensure transparent, accurate and timely
assessment of progress under various afforestation and forest conservation schemes.
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