The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently released the 18th edition of the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) 📊.
This report, published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) 🌱, is an important document that provides key insights into the health and growth of forests across India 🌍.
The ISFR has been released every two years since 1987, offering valuable information on:
- Forest cover 🌳
- Biodiversity 🦜
- Conservation efforts 🌿
In this blog post, we will explore the highlights of ISFR 2023, including:
- Current status of India’s forests 🌲
- Key trends in forest cover 📉
- Challenges for forest conservation in India 🌏
Stay tuned as we dip into the crucial findings and what they mean for the future of India’s green cover 🍃.
🌳 Key Findings of State of Forest Report 2023
Total Forest and Tree Cover 🌍
| Category | Area (km²) | Percentage of Geographical Area |
| Total Forest and Tree Cover | 827,356.95 | 25.17% |
| Forest Cover | 715,342.61 | 21.76% |
| Tree Cover | 112,014.34 | 3.41% |
| Scrub Area | 43,622.64 | 1.33% |
| Non-Forest Area | 2,416,489.29 | 73.50% |
| Total Geographical Area | 3,287,468.88 | 100.00% |
Increase in Forest and Tree Cover 📈
- Total increase: 1,445.81 km² since 2021
- Forest Cover increase: 156.41 km²
States with Maximum Increase in Forest and Tree Cover 📊
- Chhattisgarh: +684 km²
- Uttar Pradesh: +559 km²
- Odisha: +559 km²
- Rajasthan: +394 km²
States with Maximum Increase in Forest Cover 🌲
- Mizoram: +242 km²
- Gujarat: +180 km²
- Odisha: +152 km²
Largest Decrease in Forest and Tree Cover 🔻
- Madhya Pradesh: -612.41 km²
- Karnataka: -459.36 km²
- Ladakh: -159.26 km²
- Nagaland: -125.22 km²
Top Three States with Largest Forest Cover 🌳
- Madhya Pradesh: 77,073 km²
- Arunachal Pradesh: 65,882 km²
- Chhattisgarh: 55,812 km²
States/UTs with Highest Forest Cover (Percentage of Geographical Area) 🌍
- Lakshadweep: 91.33%
- Mizoram: 85.34%
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 81.62%
High Forest Cover 🌿
- 19 states/UTs have more than 33% forest cover
- 8 states/UTs have over 75% forest cover:
- Mizoram 🌱
- Lakshadweep 🌴
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands 🏝️
- Arunachal Pradesh 🌲
- Nagaland 🌳
- Meghalaya 🌳
- Tripura 🌳
- Manipur 🌱
Carbon Stock 🌍
- Total forest carbon stock: 7,285.5 million tonnes, with an increase of 81.5 million tonnes since 2021
- Top 3 states by carbon stock:
- Arunachal Pradesh: 1,021 Mt
- Madhya Pradesh: 608 Mt
- Chhattisgarh: 505 Mt
India’s Carbon Stock CO2 Equivalent 💨
- 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, exceeding the 2005 base year by 2.29 billion tonnes, approaching the 2030 target of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes.
Regional Performance 🌏
- Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas (WGESA): 60,285.61 km² (73% under forest cover)
- Northeastern Region: 1,74,394.70 km² forest and tree cover (67% of the region’s geographical area)
Mangrove Cover 🌿
- India’s Mangrove Cover: 4,991.68 km² (0.15% of India’s geographical area)
- Net decrease since 2021: -7.43 km²
- Gujarat: Decrease of 36.39 km²
- Andhra Pradesh: Increase of 13.01 km²
- Maharashtra: Increase of 12.39 km²
🔹 Don’t Miss: Top 5 States with Highest Mangrove Cover
Forest Fires 🔥
- States with the highest number of fire incidents in 2023-24:
- Uttarakhand
- Odisha
- Chhattisgarh
Bamboo Bearing Area 🌾
- Total Bamboo Bearing Area: 1,54,670 km², with an increase of 5,227 km²
- Top states with the maximum bamboo-bearing area:
- Madhya Pradesh: 20,421 km²
- Arunachal Pradesh: 18,424 km²
- Maharashtra: 13,572 km²
- Odisha: 12,328 km²
India’s Forest and Climate Commitments: Key Highlights and Global Standing 🌍🌱
Paris Agreement Commitments 🌍
- India has pledged to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030 through enhanced forest and tree cover. This commitment is a part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
- Goal: To mitigate climate change and contribute to global efforts by increasing carbon sequestration through its forests.
Bonn Challenge 🌳
- India has committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.
- Goal: To combat land degradation, enhance biodiversity, and improve ecosystem services. This restoration effort aligns with global reforestation and land rehabilitation targets.
Livelihood Support 🌾
- India’s forests support the livelihoods of about 17% of the global human population and provide resources for 18% of the world’s total livestock.
- Importance: Forests play a critical role in the socio-economic fabric of rural India, providing fuel, timber, food, and medicinal plants, while also offering employment in the forestry and related sectors.
Global Standing 🌍
- According to the Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA, 2020) published by the FAO, India is ranked among the top 10 countries in terms of forest area and holds the 3rd position for the highest annual net gain in forest cover between 2010-2020.
- Recognition: India’s commitment to increasing forest cover has been recognized globally, showcasing its leadership in forest conservation and climate action.
Trend in Forestry Parameters Between 2013-2023 🌳📊
Increase in Greenery 🌿
- Forest Cover: The total forest cover has increased by 16,630.25 km², contributing to an overall growth in green spaces across India.
- Tree Cover: There has been a significant expansion of tree cover by 20,747.34 km², reflecting the positive trend towards afforestation and urban greening efforts.
- Mangrove Cover: The mangrove cover has grown by 296.33 km², showcasing effective conservation efforts in coastal areas.
Soil Health 🌱
- Soil Classification: 87.16% of the soil is classified as shallow to deep, improving from 83.53% in 2013. This indicates better soil texture and structure for agriculture and natural vegetation.
- Soil Organic Carbon: The soil organic carbon content has increased slightly from 55.85 tonnes per hectare to 56.08 tonnes per hectare. Organic carbon plays a crucial role in improving soil aggregation, enhancing water retention, and supporting plant growth.
Biotic Influences 🌾
- Decrease in Biotic Influences: The influence of biotic factors, including human activities like grazing, illegal felling, and natural disturbances, has decreased to 26.66% from 31.28% in 2013.
- This is a positive sign of improved forest management and decreased degradation due to human activities, leading to healthier forest ecosystems and enhanced biodiversity.
This data indicates a positive trend in the expansion of India’s green cover, along with improving soil health and reducing harmful biotic influences. These factors collectively contribute to better forest sustainability and environmental health. 🌍🌱
Forest Survey of India (FSI) 🌳🌍
Established 📅
💠On 1st June 1981, FSI succeeded the Pre Investment Survey of Forest Resources (PISFR), which was initiated in 1965.
Origin 📜
💠FSI was established following the National Commission on Agriculture’s (NCA) recommendation in 1976 to set up a National Forest Survey Organization.
PISFR 🌱
💠 Started in 1965 by the Government of India with sponsorship from FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
Parent Organization 🏢
💠Under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
Primary Objective 🎯
💠The main goal of FSI is to assess and monitor forest resources in India on a regular basis. 🌲📊
Additional Services 🛠️
FSI also provides:
- Training 📚
- Research 🔬
- Extension Services 🌱
Headquarters 📍:
Located in Dehradun 🏞️, FSI also operates with four regional offices in:
- Shimla 🏔️
- Kolkata 🌇
- Nagpur 🐅
- Bangalore 🌳
Eastern Zone Sub-Centre 🗺️:
Burnihat (Meghalaya) serves as the sub-centre for the Eastern zone.
Conclusion
The 18th India State of Forest Report 2023 🌲📑 highlights:
- Positive developments in forest and tree cover 🌳🍃
- Improved carbon stock and soil health 🌍💚
However, it also points to challenges like:
- Forest fires 🔥
- Mangrove loss 🏝️
India’s commitment to global climate goals, including the Paris Agreement 🌎 and Bonn Challenge 🌱, showcases the nation’s ongoing efforts towards:
- Environmental conservation 🌍
- Sustainable development 🌱
These achievements reflect India’s active role in combating climate change 🌞 and preserving natural resources for future generations 🌍💪.
