🌳 India State of Forest Report 2023: Key Insights 🌱
Recorded Forest Area Overview
Delve into the geographic expanse documented as 'forest' in government records, encompassing 1,12,014.54 km², predominantly comprising Reserved Forests (RF) and Protected Forests (PF) under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
| Category | Area (km²) |
|---|---|
| Recorded Forest Area | 1,12,014.54 |
Tree Cover Distribution
Explore the tree cover outside recorded forest areas, ranging from single trees to patches less than 1 hectare, with areas over 1 hectare already included in forest cover, totaling 8,27,356.95 km².
| Category | Area (km²) |
|---|---|
| Tree Cover | 8,27,356.95 |
National Forest and Tree Cover Assessment
The current assessment reveals a total forest and tree cover of 14,45,814 km², marking an increase of 156.41 km² since 2021, with forest cover at 7,15,342.61 km² and tree cover at 8,27,356.95 km².
| Category | Area (km²) | Percentage of Geographical Area |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Cover | 7,15,342.61 | 21.76% |
| Tree Cover | 8,27,356.95 | 25.17% |
| Total Forest and Tree Cover | 14,45,814 | 43.91% |
| Scrub | 43,622.64 | 1.33% |
| Non-Forest | 24,16,469.29 | 73.50% |
| Geographical Area | 32,87,468.88 | 100.00% |
Leading States in Forest Cover
The top three states with the largest forest cover are Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km), and Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km), showcasing regional dominance.
| State | Forest Cover (sq km) |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | 77,073 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 65,882 |
| Chhattisgarh | 55,812 |
Leading States in Tree Cover
Maharashtra (14,524.88 km²), Uttar Pradesh (8,950.92 km²), and Rajasthan (10,841.12 km²) lead in tree cover, with Chandigarh showing the highest percentage at 18.58%.
| State | Tree Cover (km²) | Percentage of Geographical Area |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 14,524.88 | 4.71% |
| Uttar Pradesh | 8,950.92 | 3.65% |
| Rajasthan | 10,841.12 | 3.17% |
| Chandigarh | - | 18.58% |
Mangrove Cover Evaluation
The total mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 km² (0.15% of geographical area), with a decrease of 7.43 km² since 2021, though Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra show increases of 13 km² and 12 km² respectively.
| State/UT | 2021 Very Dense (km²) | 2023 Very Dense (km²) | 2021 Total (km²) | 2023 Total (km²) | Change (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 0.00 | 21.75 | 195.69 | 208.42 | 13.01 |
| Maharashtra | 0.00 | 21.52 | 194.92 | 206.92 | 12.00 |
| Total | 1,462.53 | 1,466.06 | 4,999.11 | 4,991.68 | -7.43 |
North Eastern Region Analysis
The North Eastern region boasts a forest and tree cover of 1,74,394.70 km² (67% of its geographical area), with a forest cover decrease of 327.30 km² noted in the current assessment.
| Category | Area (km²) | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and Tree Cover | 1,74,394.70 | 67% |
| Forest Cover Decrease | 327.30 | - |
Fire Incidence Hotspots 2023-24
Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are the top states for fire incidents in the 2023-24 season, highlighting critical fire-prone areas.
| State |
|---|
| Uttarakhand |
| Odisha |
| Chhattisgarh |
Bamboo Bearing Area Growth
The bamboo-bearing area has risen to 1,64,670 km², a 5,227 km² increase from 1,59,443 km² in 2021, with Arunachal Pradesh showing the highest increase at 2,685 km².
| Category/State | Area (km²) | Change (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Bamboo Bearing Area (2023) | 1,64,670 | 5,227 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | - | 2,685 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 20,421 | - |
Agroforestry Growing Stock Leaders
Maharashtra leads with 136.45 M m³, followed by Karnataka (98.31 M m³), Odisha (86.53 M m³), and Rajasthan (86.26 M m³), with Jammu & Kashmir topping UTs at 29.59 M m³.
| Region | Growing Stock (M m³) |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 136.45 |
| Karnataka | 98.31 |
| Odisha | 86.53 |
| Rajasthan | 86.26 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 29.59 |
States with Exceptional Forest Cover
19 states/UTs exceed 33% forest cover, with Mizoram (85.34%), Lakshadweep (91.33%), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (81.62%) surpassing 75%.
| State/UT | Forest Cover Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mizoram | 85.34% |
| Lakshadweep | 91.33% |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 81.62% |
Significant Forest Cover Decline
Madhya Pradesh (612.41 km²), Karnataka (459.36 km²), Ladakh (159.26 km²), and Nagaland (125.22 km²) report the largest decreases in forest and tree cover.
| State | Decrease (km²) |
|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | 612.41 |
| Karnataka | 459.36 |
| Ladakh | 159.26 |
| Nagaland | 125.22 |
Carbon Stock Insights
Arunachal Pradesh leads with the highest carbon stock at 1,021 million tonnes (Mt), followed by Madhya Pradesh (608 Mt), Chhattisgarh (505 Mt), and Maharashtra (465 Mt).
| State | Carbon Stock (Mt) |
|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | 1,021 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 608 |
| Chhattisgarh | 505 |
| Maharashtra | 465 |
Growing Stock of Wood Overview
The national growing stock of wood has increased by 262.32 M m³ (4.25%). Arunachal Pradesh tops forest growing stock at 457.83 M m³, followed by Uttarakhand (400.02 M m³), Chhattisgarh (398.54 M m³), and Madhya Pradesh (387.18 M m³). In Trees Outside Forests (TOF), Maharashtra leads with 213.93 M m³, followed by Karnataka (137.62 M m³), Madhya Pradesh (130.46 M m³), and Chhattisgarh (129.04 M m³).
| Category/State | Growing Stock (M m³) |
|---|---|
| Total Increase | 262.32 |
| In Forests | |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 457.83 |
| Uttarakhand | 400.02 |
| Chhattisgarh | 398.54 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 387.18 |
| In TOF | |
| Maharashtra | 213.93 |
| Karnataka | 137.62 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 130.46 |
| Chhattisgarh | 129.04 |
LULUCF and Climate Agreements
LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry) is a key term in environmental science and climate change discussions, notably in the Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It includes activities like afforestation, reforestation, deforestation, and agroforestry.
| LULUCF Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Afforestation | Planting trees on non-forested land |
| Reforestation | Restoring forests on previously deforested land |
| Deforestation | Clearing forests for agriculture or urbanization |
| Agroforestry | Integrating trees with agricultural practices |