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Forest cover refers to the total land area covered by forests, including natural and planted forests, within a given region or country. It encompasses all tree-dominated landscapes, regardless of species, forest density, or type. Forest cover is a crucial ecological indicator because it plays a significant role in maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate, conserving water resources, and storing carbon. It also provides habitat for wildlife, supports livelihoods for local communities, and contributes to global environmental stability. Forest cover is typically measured using satellite imagery, aerial surveys, or ground-based assessments. Forest cover includes variations in tree density and canopy cover, distinguishing it from tree cover, which may refer to individual trees outside of forests. Monitoring changes in forest cover is vital for understanding deforestation, forest degradation, and reforestation trends, which directly affect environmental sustainability and policy-making.
India’s total forest cover has shown a remarkable improvement over the 34-year period, increasing from 640,819 km² in 1987 to 713,789 km² in 2021, representing an approximate 11.4% growth. This positive trend reflects the nation’s commitment to forest conservation and afforestation efforts. Madhya Pradesh has consistently remained the state with the largest forest cover, though it saw a significant reduction from 130,099 km² in 1987 to 77,493 km² in 2021, primarily due to the formation of Chhattisgarh, which itself maintains a substantial forest cover of 55,717 km².
The northeastern states continue to be crucial for India’s forest coverage. Arunachal Pradesh, despite showing a slight decline from 64,132 km² in 1987 to 66,431 km² in 2021, maintains the highest percentage of forest cover relative to its geographical area. However, there’s a concerning trend in the northeastern region, with states like Nagaland showing a significant decline from 14,394 km² to 12,251 km², and Mizoram decreasing from 19,084 km² to 17,820 km² over the same period.
Some states have shown remarkable improvement in their forest cover. Kerala has doubled its forest area from 10,292 km² in 1987 to 21,253 km² in 2021, demonstrating successful forest conservation and expansion policies. Tamil Nadu has also shown significant improvement, increasing from 17,472 km² to 26,419 km². The formation of Telangana in 2014 created a new forest administration unit, which has shown steady growth from 19,854 km² in 2015 to 21,214 km² in 2021.
The data reveals interesting patterns in urbanized states as well. Delhi, despite being highly urbanized, has managed to increase its forest cover from a mere 15 km² in 1987 to 195 km² in 2021, showing that urban forestry initiatives can be successful. Similarly, small union territories like Chandigarh have maintained steady, though modest, forest coverage.
Maharashtra, one of India’s largest states, has shown steady growth in forest cover from 45,616 km² in 1987 to 50,798 km² in 2021, reflecting successful conservation efforts despite rapid urbanization and industrial development. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, despite being vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change, have managed to maintain relatively stable forest cover, though showing a slight decline from 7,601 km² to 6,744 km².
The data also highlights the impact of state reorganization, as seen in the cases of Bihar (split into Bihar and Jharkhand) and Uttar Pradesh (split into UP and Uttarakhand), where the forest cover numbers changed significantly after the formation of new states. These administrative changes have led to more focused forest management in the newly formed states, particularly evident in Jharkhand’s stable forest cover of around 23,721 km² and Uttarakhand’s maintenance of approximately 24,305 km² of forest area.
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