**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 304, to be answered on 02.02.2026, regarding the expansion of forest area in the country. It includes details of forest cover as per the ISFR 2023, efforts for forest expansion, and financial support provided. Annexures I-V provide state/UT-wise details of forest cover and funds released under various schemes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Forest Cover Assessment:**
* The Forest Survey of India (FSI) biennially assesses and publishes forest and tree cover data in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
* The assessment is based on wall-to-wall mapping using remote sensing, ground verification, and field data from the National Forest Inventory.
* **Current Forest Cover (ISFR 2023):**
* The forest cover of the country is 7,15,34,261 hectares, which is 21.76% of the total geographical area.
* The Recorded Forest Area is 7,75,37,700 hectares, representing 23.59% of the total geographical area.
* **Government Efforts for Expansion:**
* The Ministry provides technical and financial support to States and UTs through schemes like the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI).
* National Authority CAMPA approves the Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) of the concerned States and Union Territories.
* A plantation campaign “एक पेड़ माँ के नाम #Plant4Mother” was launched on World Environment Day 2024.
* **Funding Details:**
* Annexure II to V provides State/UT-wise details of funds released under the Green India Mission, CAMPA, Nagar Van Yojana, and MISHTI.
* Forest cover increased from 7,12,249.00 square kilometer in ISFR 2019 to 7,15,342.61 square kilometer in ISFR 2023 due to protection, conservation, and afforestation efforts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: States and Union Territories**
* **Impact:**
* States and UTs are responsible for recording forest areas under their State Acts or local laws.
* States and UTs receive technical and financial support from the Ministry for increasing forest cover.
* **Action Required:**
* States and UTs need to implement the various schemes and programs of the Central Government to increase forest cover.
* States and UTs are required to prepare and implement Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) for CAMPA.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for environmental and forestry policies in India.
India State of Forest Report (ISFR): A biennial publication by the Forest Survey of India, assessing forest and tree cover across the country.
National Authority, CAMPA: Approves Annual Plans of Operation related to compensatory afforestation.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016: Governs the management and utilization of funds for compensatory afforestation activities.
National Mission for a Green India (GIM): A national initiative for increasing forest cover in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 304
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Expansion of Forest Area in the Country
304. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of forest cover in hectares in the country along with their percentage,
State/UT-wise;
(b) the national coverage of forest area in terms of hectares and percentage;
(c) whether the Government proposes to make any new effort for the expansion of forest
area in the country, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the funds provided by the Government for conservation, development
and promotion of forests in the country during the last three years and the current year,
State/UT-wise including Chhattisgarh; and
(e) the details of the success achieved as a result thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) 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 7,15,34,261 hectare which is 21.76% of
the total geographical area of the country. The State/UT wise details of forest cover in the
country is given in Annexure-I.
(b) & (c) As per ISFR, the Recorded Forest Area is 7,75,37,700 hectares which is 23.59% of
the total geographical area of the country. The land is recorded as forest area by the concerns
State/UT under the State Act or local law.
(d) & (e) The Ministry provides technical and financial support to States and UTs through
various schemes and programmes of the Central Government for increasing forest cover
including protection, conservation and management of forests in the country. This includes the
National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), Mangrove Initiative for
Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI).
National Authority, CAMPA, also approves the Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) of the
concerned States and Union Territories in accordance with the Compensatory Afforestation
Fund Act, 2016 and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018.Further, a plantation campaign “एक पेड़ माँ के नाम #Plant4Mother” has also been launched on
the occasion of World Environment Day 2024 and in the current year also 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.
The details of funds provided by the Ministry to States and UTs including the State of
Chhattisgarh during the last three years under the Green India Mission, CAMPA, Nagar Van
Yojana and MISHTI are given at Annexure-II to Annexure-V respectively.
It is a result of the comprehensive action taken regarding protection and conservation of forests
as well as afforestation efforts that the forest cover has increased from 7,12,249.00 square
kilometer in ISFR 2019 as compared to 7,15,342.61 square kilometer in ISFR 2023.
*******Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 304
due for answer on 02.02.2026 regarding ‘Expansion of Forest Area in the Country’
State-wise/UT wise details of Forest Cover as per ISFR 2023
(Area in hectares)
Geographical Total Forest
S.No. State /UT % of GA
Area (GA) Cover 2023
1 Andhra Pradesh 1,62,92,257 30,08,496 18.47
2 Arunachal Pradesh 83,74,322 65,88,157 78.67
3 Assam 78,43,800 28,31,355 36.10
4 Bihar 94,16,300 7,53,245 8.00
5 Chhattisgarh 1,35,19,200 55,81,175 41.28
6 Delhi 1,48,300 19,528 13.17
7 Goa 3,70,200 2,26,572 61.20
8 Gujarat 1,96,24,400 15,01,664 7.65
9 Haryana 44,21,200 1,61,426 3.65
10 Himachal Pradesh 55,67,300 15,58,035 27.99
11 Jharkhand 79,71,600 23,76,578 29.81
12 Karnataka 1,91,79,100 39,25,427 20.47
13 Kerala 38,85,200 22,05,936 56.78
14 Madhya Pradesh 3,08,25,211 77,07,344 25.00
15 Maharashtra 3,07,71,300 50,85,853 16.53
16 Manipur 22,32,700 16,58,546 74.28
17 Meghalaya 22,42,900 16,96,684 75.65
18 Mizoram 21,08,100 17,99,046 85.34
19 Nagaland 16,57,900 12,22,247 73.72
20 Odisha 1,55,70,700 52,43,356 33.67
21 Punjab 50,36,200 1,84,609 3.67
22 Rajasthan 3,42,23,899 16,54,821 4.84
23 Sikkim 7,09,600 3,35,840 47.33
24 Tamil Nadu 1,30,06,000 26,45,022 20.34
25 Telangana 1,12,12,244 21,17,904 18.89
26 Tripura 10,48,600 7,58,477 72.33
27 Uttar Pradesh 2,40,92,756 15,04,580 6.24
28 Uttarakhand 53,48,336 24,30,383 45.44
29 West Bengal 88,75,200 16,83,233 18.97
30 A & N Islands 8,24,900 6,73,292 81.62
31 Chandigarh 11,400 2,500 21.93
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
32 60,200 22,562 37.48
and Daman & Diu
33 Jammu & Kashmir 21,34,639
2,22,23,600 10.63
34 Ladakh 2,28,592
35 Lakshadweep 2,963 2,706 91.3336 Puducherry 49,000 4,431 9.04
Total 32,87,46,888 7,15,34,261 21.76
Annexure-II
Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
304 due for answer on 02.02.2026 regarding ‘Expansion of Forest Area in the
Country’
Details of funds released to the States/UTs during the last three years and in the
current year under National Mission for a Green India (GIM)
(Rs. in Crores)
Sl. No. States / Year 2022-23 2023-24 2024 -25 2025-26 ( till date)
1 Arunachal Pradesh 21.28 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 Chhattisgarh 0.00 0.09 0.00 2.74
3 Haryana 0.00 7.60 30.58 25.65
4 Jammu & Kashmir 6.49 0.00 4.50 0.00
5 Karnataka 2.93 2.33 4.99 0.95
6 Kerala 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.49
7 Madhya Pradesh 17.93 8.62 23.61 0.00
8 Manipur 5.45 8.91 0.00 0.00
9 Mizoram 36.27 21.13 0.00 8.90
10 Odisha 8.4756 12.59 0.00 0.00
11 Punjab 2.7393 5.38 0.00 0.00
12 Sikkim 6.57 7.50 12.24 6.61
13 Uttarakhand 28.40 31.94 25.16 0.00
14 West Bengal 0.76 0.76 0.00 0.00
15 Uttar Pradesh 0.00 5.43 0.00 0.00Annexure-III
Annex ure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
304 due for answer on 02.02.2026 regarding ‘Expansion of Forest Area in the
Country’
Details of funds approved in Annual Plan of Operations of States/UTs CAMPA by
National Authority during the last three years and in the current year
(Rs. in Crores)
APO Approved
S. No. State/Year 2025-26
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
(till date)
1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 10.97 6.7 10.42 5.9
2 Andhra Pradesh 224.09 226.75 253.6 255.74
3 Arunachal Pradesh 195.29 190.69 126.55 390.3
4 Assam 162.57 109.69 104.39 102.75
5 Bihar 115.42 37.88 65.18 -
6 Chandigarh 1.66 1.54 1.4 0.75
7 Chhattisgarh 688.46 471.21 401.69 537.13
8 Delhi 33.93 47.15 34.55 47.8
9 Goa 36.53 31.28 29.56 33.68
10 Gujarat 205.4 250.02 310.5 400.45
11 Haryana 270.68 69.03 120.83 192.32
12 Himachal Pradesh 190.23 185.14 184.52 254.44
13 Jammu & Kashmir 312.69 370.55 180.18 128.17
14 Jharkhand 764.85 412.14 654.62 984.86
15 Karnataka 270.98 313.89 288.06 337.9
16 Kerala 17.26 9.06 8.93 8.27
17 Ladakh - 60.55 76.94 89.89
18 Madhya Pradesh 889.84 1070.6 1398.42 1443.63
19 Maharashtra 708.11 597.57 730.65 531.24
20 Manipur 22.59 20.26 27.36 44.52
21 Meghalaya 26.67 30.91 24.75 25.11
22 Mizoram 16.74 14.6 22.77 3.86
23 Odisha 1191.31 948.04 1112.93 1012.63
24 Punjab 203.01 257.1 125.94 165.68
25 Rajasthan 249.19 286.49 198.44 269.7
26 Sikkim 69.82 79.95 44 110.39
27 Tamil Nadu 38.22 44.15 35.27 23.46
28 Telangana 772.65 455.3 386.8 412.99
29 Tripura 52.9 85.77 61.87 90.71
30 Uttar Pradesh 344.08 172.04 155.57 163.27
31 Uttarakhand 320.15 383.82 335.37 403.67
32 West Bengal 52.83 79.4 63.51 90.13Annexure-IV
Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 304 due
for answer on 02.02.2026 regarding ‘Expansion of Forest Area in the Country’
Details of the fund released to the States/UTs during last three years and in current year
under Nagar Van Yojana
(Rs. in Crores)
2025-26 (till
SI No State/Year 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
date)
1 Andhra Pradesh 358.61 5888.366 3549.55 1240.47
2 Arunachal Pradesh 56 0 24 208.971
3 Assam 0 0 0 0
4 Bihar 137.61 44.802 15.16 0
5 Chandigarh 13.41 0 0 0
6 Chhattisgarh 0 0 0 762.786
7 Goa 0 61.59 0 0
8 Gujarat 203 0 242.5 0
9 Himachal Pradesh 319.4 0 0 0
10 Jammu & Kashmir 476.28 107.34 787.25 0
11 Jharkhand 1341.41 145.293 0 0
12 Karnataka 0 260.44 1598.6516 0
13 Kerala 0 0 0 473.35
14 Madhya Pradesh 1175.09 0 3260.97 2705.4141
15 Maharashtra 193.87 0 0 0
16 Manipur 0 0 0 208.964
17 Meghalaya 242.76 0 0 0
18 Mizoram 1766.1 121.74 0 0
19 Nagaland 0 1892.49 172.44 616.08
20 Punjab 0 360.53 0 0
21 Rajasthan 848.12 72.8 914.96 1292.636
22 Sikkim 390.97 42 653.4887 0
23 Tamil Nadu 630 0 0 0
24 Telangana 582.88 0 1890 826.7
25 Tripura 0 151.44 0 0
26 Uttar Pradesh 5.6 0 831.6 110.84
27 Uttarakhand 86.72 0 0 0
28 West Bengal 16.8 158.07 0 0Annexure-V
Annexure referred to in reply to part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.
304 due for answer on 02.02.2026 regarding ‘Expansion of Forest Area in the
Country’
Details of the fund released to the States/UTs during last three years and in current
year under MISHTI
(Rs. in Crore)
SI No State/Year 2024-25 2025-26 (till date)
1 Andhra Pradesh 4.71 8.368
2 Gujarat 6.20 61.10
3 Odisha 0.70 -
4 Puducherry 1.94 -
5 Kerala 0.67 1.014
6 West Bengal 3.74 -