India’s Forest Cover Sees Modest Growth; Key Insights from 2023 ISFR Report

India’s net forest cover grew by 156.41 sq km between 2021 and 2023, according to the 2023 India State of Forest Report (ISFR). This increase brings the nation’s forest cover to 21.76% of its geographical area, marking a minimal rise of 0.05% compared to 2021.

The total area under forest cover now stands at 7,15,342.61 sq km. When combined with tree cover, which increased by 1,285.4 sq km, the country’s overall green cover rose by 1,445.81 sq km to reach 25.17%.

Key Insights from the Report

1. Increase Outside Recorded Forest Areas (RFAs):
   • Of the 156.41 sq km increase, 149.13 sq km occurred outside RFAs, such as private and community lands.
   • Inside RFAs, the rise was limited to just 7.28 sq km.
2. Losses in Moderately Dense and Open Forests:
   • A decline of 1,234.95 sq km was noted in moderately dense forests, while open forests reduced by 1,189.27 sq km.
   • However, very dense forests grew significantly by 2,431.50 sq km.
3. Western Ghats Assessment:
   • The eco-sensitive Western Ghats region lost 58.22 sq km of forest cover since 2013, mainly in moderately dense and open forests.
4. Mangrove Cover Decline:
   • Mangrove cover reduced by 7.43 sq km, with Gujarat recording the highest loss of 36 sq km.
   • The total mangrove area now stands at 4,991.68 sq km, 0.15% of India’s geographical area.
5. Declining Trends in the Northeast:
   • Northeastern states collectively lost 327.30 sq km of forest cover, with Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam seeing the steepest declines.
   • Mizoram was the exception, with a 178 sq km increase.
6. State-Wise Gains and Losses:
   • Largest Gains: Chhattisgarh (683.62 sq km), Uttar Pradesh (559.19 sq km), and Odisha (558.57 sq km).
   • Largest Losses: Madhya Pradesh (612.41 sq km), Karnataka (459.36 sq km), and Ladakh (159.26 sq km).
7. Carbon Stock and Tree Density:
   • The country’s carbon stock increased by 81.5 million tonnes compared to the 2021 assessment.
   • Very Dense Forests, with over 70% canopy density, saw notable gains, contributing significantly to carbon sequestration.

Forest Cover Classifications
The ISFR categorizes forests based on tree canopy density:

• Very Dense Forests (VDF): Canopy density ≥ 70%.
• Moderately Dense Forests (MDF): Canopy density 40-70%.
• Open Forests (OF): Canopy density 10-40%.

Conclusion
The marginal rise in forest cover underscores the need for intensified conservation efforts. While gains in very dense forests are encouraging, losses in mangrove and moderately dense forests highlight pressing challenges.