Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023’ (ISFR 2023) at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. This report, published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) since 1987, offers a comprehensive assessment of India’s forest and tree resources, based on satellite data and field-based surveys. The 2023 report marks the 18th edition of this significant publication.
The ISFR 2023 provides crucial information on the country’s forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock, carbon stock, and instances of forest fires. It also highlights the role of agroforestry in India. According to the latest assessment, the total forest and tree cover in India stands at 827,357 square kilometers, representing 25.17 percent of the country’s total geographical area. Of this, 715,343 square kilometers (21.76%) is classified as forest cover, while 112,014 square kilometers (3.41%) is tree cover.
Yadav expressed satisfaction over the increase in the country’s forest and tree cover, which has grown by 1,445 square kilometers since the 2021 assessment. This includes an increase of 156 square kilometers in forest cover and 1,289 square kilometers in tree cover. He also emphasized the advanced technology used by FSI for real-time fire alerts and forest fire services, which help in better forest management.
In terms of the top-performing states, Chhattisgarh led with an increase of 684 square kilometers in forest and tree cover, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, each with a 559 square kilometer increase, and Rajasthan, with a 394 square kilometer increase. Mizoram, Gujarat, and Odisha were the top three states showing the largest increase in forest cover, with Mizoram seeing an increase of 242 square kilometers, followed by Gujarat (180 square kilometers) and Odisha (152 square kilometers).
The report also provides a state-wise analysis of forest and tree cover, with Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra leading in total area covered by forests and trees. Madhya Pradesh alone accounts for 85,724 square kilometers of forest and tree cover, while Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra follow with 67,083 and 65,383 square kilometers, respectively. In terms of forest cover relative to total geographical area, Lakshadweep (91.33%) has the highest percentage, followed by Mizoram (85.34%) and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (81.62%).
The assessment also reveals that 19 states and union territories have more than 33 percent of their geographical area under forest cover, with eight states—Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur—boasting forest cover exceeding 75 percent.
In terms of other environmental resources, India’s mangrove cover is estimated at 4,992 square kilometers. The growing stock, which includes timber and other forest products, has increased by 262 million cubic meters compared to the previous assessment. Bamboo-bearing areas have also seen growth, with an increase of 5,227 square kilometers, reaching a total of 154,670 square kilometers. The potential annual timber production from trees outside forests has been estimated at 91.51 million cubic meters.
The carbon stock in India’s forests is another key highlight of the report. The current estimate stands at 7,285.5 million tonnes, marking an increase of 81.5 million tonnes from the last assessment. Furthermore, the report shows that India has already exceeded its carbon sequestration target under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), with a carbon stock of 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, surpassing the 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink goal set for 2030.
The ISFR 2023 not only offers valuable insights into the health of India’s forests but also serves as a vital resource for policymakers, environmental planners, state forest departments, research organizations, and academic institutions. It provides essential data that aids in the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s natural resources.