Forest and Tree Cover in India

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28-Jan-2023: Forest and Tree cover in India

Definitions

  • Tree cover: area of land covered by trees, regardless of ecosystem
  • Forest cover: area of land covered by forest ecosystem (tree canopy density > 10%, >1 hectare)

National Mission for a Green India (GIM):

  • One of 8 Missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change
  • Aims to protect, restore, enhance forest cover and respond to climate change
  • Target under Mission is 10 Mha for forest/tree cover increase and quality improvement
  • Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change supports afforestation activities
  • Improving tree cover critical for sequestering carbon and meeting international commitments to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

Forest status in India:

  • Forest and tree cover increased by 2,261 sq km since 2019
  • Total forest and tree cover: 80.9 Mha (24.62% of geographical area)
  • 17 states/UTs had >33% area under forest cover
  • Top 5 states in terms of forest cover as % of total geographical area: Mizoram (84.53%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), Meghalaya (76%), Manipur (74.34%), Nagaland (73.90%)

Issues associated with forests in India:

  • Shrinking forest cover: ideal percentage of forest cover is 33%, currently 24.62% and decreasing
  • Resource access conflict: local communities vs commercial interests
  • Climate change: forest disturbances reduce productivity and change species distribution, 45-64% of forests will experience effects by 2030.

Government Initiatives for Forest Conservation:

  • National Afforestation Programme
  • Environment Protection Act of 1986
  • Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

More ways to grow forest cover?

  • Utilising Technology for Conservation
    • Remote sensing for monitoring and tracking
    • Potential resource mapping
  • Dedicated Forest Corridors
  • Promoting Agroforestry
    • Integration of trees and forest-based products into farming systems.