The Forest Survey of India (FSI), based in Dehradun and operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, conducts biennial assessments of forest cover. According to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) released in 2021, the country’s total forest cover stands at 7,13,789 square kilometers, which accounts for 21.71% of the nation’s geographical area. Detailed state and union territory (UT) wise data on forest cover since 2019 can be found in the annexure.
According to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) released in 2021, the country’s total forest cover stands at 7,13,789 square kilometers.
During the period from 2019 to 2021, the tree cover increased by 721 square kilometers, with no reported loss. Consequently, concerns regarding increased carbon dioxide emissions due to tree cover loss do not apply.
Differences between the findings of the India State of Forest Report 2021 and data from Global Forest Watch may stem from variances in the definitions used for forest cover and tree cover in these respective reports.
Currently, there are no plans to amend the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhniyam, 1980.
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 132 due for answer on 22.07.2024 regarding ‘Forest Cover in the country’
States/UTs wise details of change in Forest Cover from ISFR 2019 to ISFR 2021
Forest Survey of India
| Sl. No. | States/UTs | ISFR 2019 | ISFR 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 29,137 | 29,784 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 66,688 | 66,431 |
| 3 | Assam | 28,327 | 28,312 |
| 4 | Bihar | 7,306 | 7,381 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | 55,611 | 55,717 |
| 6 | Delhi | 195 | 195 |
| 7 | Goa | 2,237 | 2,244 |
| 8 | Gujarat | 14,857 | 14,926 |
| 9 | Haryana | 1,602 | 1,603 |
| 10 | Himachal Pradesh | 15,434 | 15,443 |
| 11 | Jammu & Kashmir (UT)* | 23,612 | 21,387 |
| 12 | Jharkhand | 23,611 | 23,721 |
| 13 | Karnataka | 38,575 | 38,730 |
| 14 | Kerala | 21,144 | 21,253 |
| 15 | Madhya Pradesh | 77,482 | 77,493 |
| 16 | Maharashtra | 50,778 | 50,798 |
| 17 | Manipur | 16,847 | 16,598 |
| 18 | Meghalaya | 17,119 | 17,046 |
| 19 | Mizoram | 18,006 | 17,820 |
| 20 | Nagaland | 12,486 | 12,251 |
| 21 | Odisha | 51,619 | 52,156 |
| 22 | Punjab | 1,849 | 1,847 |
| 23 | Rajasthan | 16,630 | 16,655 |
| 24 | Sikkim | 3,342 | 3,341 |
| 25 | Tamil Nadu | 26,364 | 26,419 |
| 26 | Telangana | 20,582 | 21,214 |
| 27 | Tripura | 7,726 | 7,722 |
| 28 | Uttar Pradesh | 14,806 | 14,818 |
| 29 | Uttarakhand | 24,303 | 24,305 |
| 30 | West Bengal | 16,902 | 16,832 |
| 31 | A&N Islands | 6,743 | 6,744 |
| 32 | Chandigarh | 22 | 23 |
| 33 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 227 | 228 |
| 34 | Ladakh (UT)* | – | 2,272 |
| 35 | Lakshadweep | 27 | 27 |
| 36 | Puducherry | 52 | 53 |
| Grand Total | 7,12,249 | 7,13,789 |
Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh disclosed in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the ISFR 2019 consolidated the forest cover data for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
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Last modified: July 22, 2024
