Why in the News?

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023’ (ISFR 2023) at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background (Context of the Article, How Data is Computed, etc.)
• Key Highlights of ISFR 2023

Background:

• India is one of the few countries to have a scientific system of periodic forest cover assessment in the form of India State of Forest Report.
• India State of Forest Report is an assessment of India’s forest and tree cover.
• It is published every two years by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• The first survey was published in 1987.

How is Data Computed for the Report?

• Data is computed through wall-to-wall mapping of India’s forest cover through remote sensing satellites.
• Three categories of forests are surveyed:
  • Very Dense Forests (canopy density over 70%),
  • Moderately Dense Forests (40-70%) and Open Forests (10-40%),
  • Scrubs (canopy density less than 10%)
• Forest Cover is defined as:
  • “An area more than 1 ha in extent and having tree canopy density of 10 percent and above”.
• Tree Cover is defined as:
  • “Tree patches outside recorded forest areas exclusive of forest cover and less than the minimum mappable area of one hectare”.
  • 
• The data is used in planning and formulation of policies in forest management as well as forestry and agroforestry sectors.

Key Highlights of the India State of Forest Report 2023:

• Forest and Tree Cover Statistics:
  • Total forest and tree cover: 827,357 sq. km (25.17% of India's geographical area).
  • Forest cover: 715,343 sq. km (21.76%).
  • Tree cover: 112,014 sq. km (3.41%).
• Increase in Forest and Tree Cover:
  • Total increase since 2021: 1,445 sq. km.
  • Forest cover increased by 156 sq. km, and tree cover by 1,289 sq. km.
• Top-Performing States:
  • Forest and Tree Cover Increases:
    • Chhattisgarh: 684 sq. km.
    • Uttar Pradesh and Odisha: 559 sq. km each.
    • Rajasthan: 394 sq. km.
  • Forest Cover Increases:
    • Mizoram: 242 sq. km.
    • Gujarat: 180 sq. km.
    • Odisha: 152 sq. km.
• State-Wise Leaders in Total Area Under Forest and Tree Cover:
• Madhya Pradesh: 85,724 sq. km.
• Arunachal Pradesh: 67,083 sq. km.
• Maharashtra: 65,383 sq. km.
• Highest Forest Cover by Geographical Area:
  • Lakshadweep: 91.33%.
  • Mizoram: 85.34%.
  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 81.62%.
• Significant Environmental Resources:
  • Mangrove Cover: 4,992 sq. km.
  • Bamboo-Bearing Area: Increased by 5,227 sq. km, totalling 154,670 sq. km.
  • Growing Stock: Increased by 262 million cubic meters.
  • Potential Annual Timber Production: 91.51 million cubic meters.
• Carbon Stock and Sequestration:
  • Current carbon stock in forests: 7,285.5 million tonnes (an increase of 81.5 million tonnes).
  • Exceeded NDC target with 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, surpassing the 2030 goal of an additional 2.29 billion tonnes.
• States with Significant Forest Cover:
  • 19 states/UTs have more than 33% geographical area under forest cover.
  • 8 states, including Mizoram, Lakshadweep, and Arunachal Pradesh, have over 75% forest cover.
• Technological Advancements:
  • Real-time fire alerts and forest fire services by FSI enhance forest management.