Forest Status in India: Key Insights from ISFR 2021

India's forest cover plays a critical role in the nation's environmental stability and biodiversity. The Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of forests in the country, providing key insights into their distribution, density, and changes over time. Let's dive into the key findings and understand the current forest status in India.

Total Forest and Tree Cover

The combined forest and tree cover in India accounts for 24.62% of the country's total geographical area. Specifically:

• Total Forest Cover: 7,13,789 sq. km or 21.71% of India's geographical area.
• Tree Cover: Trees, separate from forest cover, spread across 2.91% of the land area.

Forest Cover by Density

The ISFR 2021 report categorizes India's forest cover into different density classes:

• Very Dense Forest: Covers 3.04% of India's geographical area, representing the most pristine forest regions.
• Moderately Dense Forest: Accounts for 9.33% of the geographical area.
• Open Forest: Spans 9.34% of the geographical area, indicating areas with lower canopy density.
• Scrub Forest: Covers 1.42% of the geographical area, often representing degraded forest areas.
• Non-Forest: The remaining 76.87% of the geographical area is classified as non-forest.

Top States by Forest Cover

India's forest cover is not uniformly distributed, with some states boasting larger forested areas:

• Largest Forest Cover: Madhya Pradesh > Arunachal Pradesh > Chhattisgarh > Odisha > Maharashtra.
• Top States in Forest Cover Increase: Andhra Pradesh > Telangana > Odisha > Karnataka > Jharkhand.

North Eastern States' Forest Cover

The North Eastern region of India stands out with the highest percentage of forest cover relative to the total geographical area of the states:

• Mizoram: 84.53% of the state's area is forested.
• Arunachal Pradesh: 79.33% forest cover.
• Meghalaya: 76.00% forest cover.
• Manipur: 74.34% forest cover.
• Nagaland: 73.90% forest cover.

States with Forest Cover Loss

Unfortunately, some states have experienced a decline in forest cover:

• States Showing Loss: Arunachal Pradesh > Manipur > Nagaland > Mizoram > Meghalaya.

Mangrove Coverage in India

Mangroves, crucial for coastal ecosystems, cover 4,992 sq. km, making up 0.15% of India's total geographical area.

Tree Coverage

In 2021, the overall area covered by trees in India was estimated at 95,748 sq. km. The states with the maximum tree cover are:

• Maharashtra>Rajasthan>Madhya Pradesh>Karnataka > UP.

 Bamboo Resource Situation

Bamboo is another critical resource, and India’s bamboo-growing area spans 15.00 million hectares. The states with the most significant bamboo-bearing areas are:

• Maximum Bamboo Bearing Areas: Mizoram > Arunachal Pradesh.
• Least Bamboo Bearing Areas: Madhya Pradesh > Maharashtra.

Conclusion

The ISFR 2021 report underscores both the achievements and challenges in India's forest management. While some regions have seen significant increases in forest cover, others, particularly in the North East, have experienced losses. The preservation and expansion of India's forest and tree cover remain crucial for maintaining biodiversity, combating climate change, and ensuring ecological balance.

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