Experts debate ‘forest cover’ definition after release of forest survey report

India's total forest and tree cover reached 25% of its geographical area, a slight increase since 2021. However, the actual increase in recorded forest area was minimal, raising concerns among environmentalists. Experts question the inclusion of plantations and trees outside designated forests in the assessment, emphasizing the need to focus on forest department efforts.

DEHRADUN: The release of Forest Survey of India published ‘ India State of Forest Report ’, on Saturday, evoked mixed response from experts. Many continued to debate on why the plantation of trees outside forests was not counted as green cover, considering that it is a place that is “habitat to myriad animals and endless microorganism and invisible lives thriving on that ecosystem”. B K Singh, retd principal of chief conservator of forests and head of forest force, Karnataka, said, “We have added 1445 sq km of forest and tree cover in two years.

Of this, the increase in forest cover is only 156 sq km, and more interesting is that it is only 7 sq km in recorded forests. Forest and tree cover areas put together are 8,27,357 sq km, where the forest cover is a sizable chunk of 7,15,343 sq km. The increase is quite meagre, as compared to the size.

Forest departments have been planting in recorded forests at the rate of 100 sq km annually. Why do these plantations not show an increase in cover?” He further said that around 7 sq km has been lost in mangroves. “Again, coastal states are planting mangroves, and the report shows a loss in mangroves.

Deforestation is continuing all over, and the report has attempted to cover that,” he added. Environmentalists said that the forest department’s efforts should be assessed and discussed in the biennial report rather than public areas and plantations. Veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra said, “For quite some time, the ministry has been recording the trees outside of the forest department and the forests in its estimates of the forest cover.

It appears from a quick glance of the report that much of the increase has taken place in trees outside of the designated forest area and therefore, it would be incorrect to pat the ministry on its back. For all we know, this may be people’s efforts on tree planting. In fact, if we look at Uttarakhand, there are so many landslides that are taking place that we should be losing forest cover under the forest department.

The new plantations ought not to be counted as forest cover until the plants have matured.” (Inputs from Pankul Sharma) Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

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