Cover Reaches 25.17%: A Milestone for Environmental Sustainability

According to the India State of Forest Report, ISFR 2023, India's forest and tree cover has increased to 25.17% of the total land area, which depicts a positive stride toward environmental sustainability. This is due to both forests and tree cover, with the former taking up 21.76% of the country while the latter has 3.41%. However, the general trend of increase is marred by the controversy surrounding the inclusion of plantations into the country's forest cover, since those areas do not possess the key ecological attributes such as deadwood and underground biomass that enhance carbon sequestration.

Breakdown of Forest and Tree Cover

The latest biennial survey conducted by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which has made use of both satellite data and ground-level surveys, shows that the total forest and tree cover area in India now amounts to 827,357 square kilometers. This is an increase of 1,445.8 square kilometers from the last survey conducted in 2021. The forest cover has increased by 156 square kilometers, that is, a rise of 0.05%. The tree cover has increased more significantly by 1,289.4 square kilometers.

According to the 2023 report, forest cover in the country covers 715,342.6 square kilometers, which is 21.76% of India's geographical area, while tree cover spans 112,014.3 square kilometers, which is 3.41%. The national forest policy of India was established in 1988, with an ambitious target of having 33% of its land area under forest cover for ecological balance, which is yet to be achieved.

Regional and State-Level Insights

There are regions and states that have done better than others in the expansion of green cover. Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh showed the most growth in forest and tree cover. Chhattisgarh alone has added 683.62 square kilometers to its green cover, followed by Uttar Pradesh with an addition of 559 square kilometers. Odisha and Rajasthan also did remarkably well, adding 558 and 394 square kilometers, respectively.

On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest loss in green cover, which was 612 square kilometers, followed by Karnataka, Ladakh, and Nagaland, which all had considerable losses. Madhya Pradesh, at 85,724 sq. km of area, still leading in the total green cover, is followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 67,083 sq. km and Maharashtra at 65,383 sq. km of area.

Changes in Forest Density

The report also gives an insight into the changes in forest density. Very dense forests with over 70% canopy density increased by 2431.5 sq. km. However, moderately dense forests were reduced by 1234.9 sq. km, and open forest decreased by 1128.2 sq. km. This shows the change in the quality of forests. Such changes help to understand the general trends of India's forest ecosystem.

Environmental Benefits and Carbon Stock

The absolute total amount of carbon stock over the entire forest area of India amounts to 7,285.5 million tons, which has increased by 81.5 million tons more as compared to the previous report's assessment. This increment adds a positive value to India's commitment toward carbon sequestration as a part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. The current carbon stock has risen to 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, surpassing the 2030 target of increasing the carbon sink by 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes.

The ecologically sensitive regions, however, such as mangrove forests and the Western Ghats, face setbacks. Mangroves' cover declined by 7.4 square kilometers, which is very alarming, as mangroves have significant protection for the coastal regions against natural calamities. Similarly, a “decadal dip" occurred in the Western Ghats and the Eastern States Area with a decline of 58.2 square kilometers in forest cover.

Forests and Tree Cover in Special Areas

The geographical diversity of India is reflected in the forest cover statistics of various states and Union Territories. As reported, 19 states and UTs have more than 33% of their area covered with forests. Eight states, such as Mizoram, Lakshadweep, and Arunachal Pradesh, have already surpassed 75% of the forest cover.

Lakshadweep stands out as the location with the largest forest area. The area under forest covers about 91.33 percent of the total land area. Mizoram ranks second with 85.34%, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are in third place with 81.62%. The former two represent examples of remarkable biodiversity and ecological importance.

Emerging Technological Developments on Forest Observations

Other than this, ISFR 2023 also reports several technologies that have greatly improved the detection and monitoring of forest environments. For the first time, the FSI has included detailed forest cover change matrices offering clearer insights into the dynamics in forest cover both inside and outside the Recorded Forest Area (RFA). Plus, including trees with diameters between 5 and 10 cm in the analysis has now improved the assessment of the tree cover, which is critical for industries like paper and pulp production. Agroforestry plays a vital role as well, with its contribution of 127,590 square kilometers of tree cover and over 1.29 billion cubic meters of growing stock. Agroforestry has gained importance, not just for its economic value but also for its carbon-credit-earning potential, making India's efforts toward sustainability even more enhanced.

Conclusion:

The India State of Forest Report 2023 presents a complex yet hopeful outlook on the country's green cover. On the one hand, expansion in forest and tree cover is showing improvement; however, this needs to be buttressed by efforts that also work toward long-term ecological stability. The loss of certain forest types, including moderately dense forests, and the decline in mangrove cover suggest that more focused conservation strategies are needed. However, at the same time, the report paints an encouraging picture, whereby Indian forests will play a decisive role globally in carbon sequestration and environmental resiliency. India progresses with continuity monitoring, continuous advancement in technology, and targeted policy inputs steadily toward a much greener and more sustainable ecological future.