File photo of Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar
The total forest and tree cover of the country has grown as compared to the assessment done in 2011, the latest official report today said.
According to the latest India State of Forest Report 2013 which is released once in two years, there has been an increase of 5871 sq km in forest cover as compared to the assessment done in 2011.
"As per the present assessment, the total forest and tree cover of the country is 78.92 million hectare, which is 24.01 percent of the geographical area of the country.
"As compared to the assessment of 2011, there is an increase of 5871 sq km in the forest cover and 422 Sq Km in tree cover in the country," the report brought out by Forest Survey of India said.
It said the major part of the increase in forest cover has been observed in open forest category mainly outside forest areas.
However, the report said also said that in the moderately Dence Forest section, the net change in forest cover between 2011 and 2013 assessments shows a decline 0.62 percent.
The report also said that there has been a net decline of 627 sq kms in forest cover in north eastern states as compared to last assessment while the mangrove cover in India too has decreased by 34 Sq Kms.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, after releasing the report emphasised, the need for enhancing green cover and called for a mass movement for afforestation.
"Unless we make afforestation a mass movement, we cannot grow forest. If you involve people, then forest will increase. We will make it a mass movement and will take people along so that it becomes a real success story," Mr Javadekar said after releasing the report.
The minister said it was critical for each stakeholder to participate in making environmental sustainability a reality to ensure the agenda for growth and added the report captured the ground realities pertaining to environment.
The report also said the maximum increase in forest cover has been observed in West Bengal (3810 sq km) followed by Odisha (1444 sq kms) and Kerala (622 sq Kms) while Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover of 77,522 sq km. in terms of area.
The report also said hill and tribal districts of the country too registered an increase in forest cover of 40 sq km and 2,396 sq km respectively.
However, there were 13 states which showed loss in forest cover between assessments made in 2011 and 2013 with maximum loss registered in Nagaland, according to a power point presentation given by an FSI official.
Mr Javadekar also said that it was a matter of concern that in north eastern states, forest cover has not increased and stressed on motivating people for their participation. The north eastern states account for one-fourth of the country's forest cover, according to the report.
"In climate change debates, we always go and tell the world here is a country which is increasing its canopy and green cover. Over last one decade, we have added net two or three percent. Many countries do not have that. If we are increasing our forest cover, we are going in the right direction," he said.