Indian State of Forest Report 2023

Note:

• India’s total geographical area is 3,287,263 sq km.
• *The 2023 carbon stock figure is an estimate based on incremental trends.
• ISFR is released biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

1.        Total Forest Cover

o    Represents the total area (in sq km) under forest as per the FSI definition: land with a tree canopy density of 10% or more.

o    Indicates the extent of forests across the country.

2.        Tree Cover

o    Refers to tree patches (outside recorded forest areas) with an area less than 1 hectare but having a tree canopy density of more than 10%.

o    Captures scattered trees, blocks, and other small patches not included in forest cover.

3.        Total Forest & Tree Cover

o    A combined metric that sums the Total Forest Cover + Tree Cover.

o    Gives a holistic picture of both statutory forested lands and scattered tree patches.

4.        Mangrove Cover

o    Specific measurement of the area covered by mangrove forests along the coastline and estuarine regions.

o    Mangroves are critical for coastal protection, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

5.        Carbon Stock

o    The total amount of carbon stored in the country’s forest vegetation, including biomass (above and below ground).

o    Reflects the role of forests in mitigating climate change by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

6.        Change (2019→2021) / (2021→2023) and % Change

o    Indicates the absolute (sq km) and relative (%) increase or decrease between two assessment years.

o    Helps understand trends in forest area gains or losses over time.

7.        % of India’s Geographical Area

o    The portion of the country’s total area occupied by each metric.

o    Offers a comparative context to see how much of India’s landmass is under forest/tree/mangrove cover.

1.        Very Dense Forest (VDF)

o    Forest with a canopy density of 70% or more.

o    Often indicates pristine or near-pristine forest areas with minimal anthropogenic disturbance and high biodiversity.

2.        Moderately Dense Forest (MDF)

o    Forest with a canopy density between 40% and 70%.

o    Generally healthy forests but with somewhat lower canopy coverage compared to VDF.

3.        Open Forest (OF)

o    Forest with a canopy density between 10% and 40%.

o    Often indicates degraded forests or areas transitioning between shrubland and denser forest conditions.

4.        Change & % Change

o    Shows how the area in each density class has shifted between two time periods, highlighting transitions (e.g., from MDF to OF or vice versa).

5.        % of India’s Geographical Area

o    The share of each forest density class in relation to the entire landmass of India (3,287,263 sq km).

1.        Bamboo-Bearing Area

o    The total area in forests (and sometimes outside forests) with bamboo presence.

o    Bamboo plays a significant role in rural livelihoods, paper and pulp industries, and soil conservation.

2.        Change (2019→2021) / (2021→2023) and % Change

o    Indicates the decline or increase in the extent of bamboo-bearing areas over time.

o    Negative changes highlight potential overharvesting, habitat loss, or other ecological pressures.

1.        Forest Fire–Prone Areas

o    The percentage of total forest cover that is vulnerable to fires, either due to climatic conditions, vegetation type, human activities, or topography.

o    A critical metric for disaster management and preventive planning.

2.        % of Total Forest Cover

o    Indicates how much of the existing forest cover is at risk, rather than just the geographical area.

o    Reflects the management challenge in terms of monitoring and mitigating fire incidents.

1.        Largest Forest Cover (sq km)

o    Absolute forest area in a state.

o    Helps identify states with the highest volumes of forested land, vital for biodiversity and resource management.

2.        Change & % Change (2021→2023)

o    Shows how the forest cover changed in each state over the stated period.

o    Offers insights into deforestation or afforestation rates at the state level.

3.        % of State’s Geographical Area

o    The proportion of each state’s total area that is forested.

o    Can be high in smaller states with dense forests (e.g., Northeast India) and lower in larger or more arid states.

4.        Highest Percentage of Forest Cover

o    Identifies states that have the largest fraction of their land under forest, even if their absolute forest area might be smaller compared to larger states.

1.        Green India Mission

o    A centrally sponsored program aiming to increase forest cover and enhance ecosystem services (like carbon sequestration, soil and water conservation).

2.        National Afforestation Programme

o    Focused on regenerating degraded forest areas to improve their ecological value and productivity.

o    Implemented through agencies like Forest Development Agencies (FDAs).

3.        Nagar Van Yojana

o    Targets the creation of city forests (“Nagar Vans”) for recreation, microclimate regulation, and urban biodiversity.

o    Helps improve air quality and reduce urban heat island effects.

4.        State/UT Initiatives

o    Each state/UT runs its own schemes (plantation drives, watershed management, etc.) suited to local conditions and policy priorities.

1.        Nagar Van (Urban Forest)

o    Forested areas within or near cities that provide recreational spaces and ecosystem services (e.g., pollution reduction, habitat for urban wildlife).

2.        Peri-Urban Plantations

o    Tree plantations around the periphery of urban areas, creating buffer zones between city infrastructure and rural/semi-rural areas.

o    Helps absorb pollutants and regulate temperature.

3.        Smart City Projects

o    Integrated urban development initiatives focusing on sustainability, technology, and quality of life.

o    Emphasize green infrastructure alongside efficient public services.

·          Incremental Increase in Forest & Tree Cover: Small but consistent gains in total forest cover and tree cover between 2019 and 2023.

·          Mangroves: Continued growth reflects successful coastal and estuarine conservation efforts.

·          Carbon Stock Growth: Demonstrates the potential of Indian forests to mitigate climate change by sequestering more carbon.

·          Forest Fire–Prone Areas: Around 22% of total forest cover is vulnerable, necessitating enhanced monitoring and fire management strategies.

·          Bamboo Bearing Area Decline: Requires targeted measures to conserve and sustainably harvest bamboo resources.

·          Afforestation & Urban Green Initiatives: Governmental programs like Green India Mission, National Afforestation Programme, and Nagar Van Yojana are crucial to sustain and increase green cover, both in rural and urban contexts.