Authored by Dr. Gyan Pathak
India is still grappling with its commitment to the National Forest Policy established 35 years ago in 1988. As of 2023, the country has managed to achieve only 25.17 percent in forest and tree cover, falling short of the minimum target of one-third (33.3 percent) of the total land area, a goal essential for maintaining environmental stability, restoring ecological balance, and preserving our natural heritage. The environmental crisis exacerbated by climate change has intensified this struggle, leading to significant frustration.
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, released the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 on December 21. The report indicates that the total forest and tree cover is now 827,357 sq km, accounting for 25.17 percent of the country’s geographical area. This includes a forest cover of 715,343 sq km (21.76 percent) and a tree cover of 112,014 sq km (3.41 percent).
Despite the unimpressive overall figures, the minister expressed satisfaction with a slight improvement when comparing ISFR 2023 with ISFR 2021, noting an increase of 1,445 sq km in total forest and tree cover. This growth includes just a 156 sq km rise in forest cover, while tree cover saw a more substantial increase of 1,289 sq km. The minister also pointed to advancements in technology, such as near real-time fire alerts and forest fire services provided by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
The minister’s comments aimed to paint a positive picture of the government’s achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in power for over a decade. However, the ISFR 2023 paints a more troubling picture of the performance of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment during this period.
According to the 2013 assessment, the total forest and tree cover was recorded at 789,164 sq km, or 24.01 percent of India’s geographical area. The fact that it has grown to just 25.17 percent over the past decade illustrates a disappointing trend, especially in light of the escalating climate crisis.
The forest cover in 2013 was 697,898 sq km (21.23 percent) and has only increased to 715,343 sq km (21.76 percent) by 2023. In comparison, tree cover rose from 91,266 sq km (2.78 percent) to 112,014 sq km (3.41 percent). This clearly indicates that the growth of forest cover has lagged significantly behind that of tree cover.
While forests are under government administration, tree ownership can belong to private individuals or the public, suggesting that citizens are more invested in increasing forest and tree cover than the government.
India’s struggle to enhance its forest and tree cover is underscored by the various government initiatives being implemented with limited success, as highlighted by the ISFR 2023 data. This report includes extensive information about forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock, carbon stock in India’s forests, incidents of forest fires, agroforestry, and more, to provide a comprehensive overview of the country’s forest health.
The Union Ministry of Forest and Environment provides both technical and financial support to states and Union Territories through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including the Green India Mission (GIM), Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme, CAMPA, Nagar Van Yojana, and the National Afforestation Programme, in line with the objectives of the National Forest Policy of 1988.
The Green India Mission (GIM) was launched in the Financial Year 2015-16, with a total estimated cost of around Rs 46,000 crore. It’s important to note that GIM is part of the eight missions outlined in the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). As of July, the Lok Sabha was informed that the government has allocated Rs 909.82 crore to 17 states and one Union Territory, with Rs 624.71 crore disbursed under this scheme between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
Nevertheless, 19 states/UTs have achieved forest cover exceeding 33 percent of their geographical area. Among these, eight areas—Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur—boast forest cover surpassing 75 percent.
To align with international climate change agreements, India is also committed to enhancing carbon sinks within its forests. Current assessments estimate the total carbon stock in India’s forests at 7,285.5 million tonnes, reflecting an increase of 81.5 million tonnes compared to the previous assessment.
Concerning the targets set under the Nationally Determined Commitments (NDC) related to carbon sequestration, India’s carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This indicates that, relative to the 2005 baseline year, India has already achieved 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink, approaching the target of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030. (IPA Service)
