Thu Jan 02 23:30:00 UTC 2025: ## India’s Forest Cover Shows Slight Increase, But Concerns Remain

**New Delhi, January 3, 2025** – India’s forest and tree cover has increased marginally, according to the State of Forest Report (SFR) 2023, released on December 21, 2024. The report indicates a 1,445 sq. km increase, bringing the total forest and tree cover to 25.17% of the country’s geographical area. However, this increase has sparked debate among experts, who question the methodology and the overall health of the nation’s forests.

While Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha saw significant gains, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Ladakh, and Nagaland experienced losses. The Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area, a key biodiversity hotspot, lost 58.22 sq. km of forest cover over the past decade, with the Nilgiris forests suffering a particularly sharp decline of 123.44 sq. km. Mangrove cover also decreased by 7.43 sq. km since 2021, despite increases in some states.

The report’s methodology has drawn criticism. Experts point out that the inclusion of plantations, orchards, and bamboo in the definition of “forest cover” inflates the positive figures and masks the loss of natural forests. The lack of data on forest fragmentation, biodiversity, and the causes of degradation further undermines the report’s value, according to environmental studies professor Divya Gupta. Deputy conservator of forests Sudeep Budhaditya Deb also highlighted the minimal actual increase in forest cover compared to the reported figures.

Despite concerns, the SFR 2023 does report a positive increase in carbon stock (81.5 million tonnes) and growing stock (4.25%). The report also details the nation’s forest fire alert system, which utilized over 112.67 lakh SMS alerts during the 2023-2024 fire season. However, the system doesn’t differentiate between beneficial and damaging fires.

The findings highlight the need for a more nuanced approach to assessing forest health, moving beyond simple area calculations to incorporate crucial ecological indicators and address the underlying causes of deforestation and degradation. India’s commitment to increasing its carbon stock by 2030 remains a significant challenge, requiring a more comprehensive and sustainable forest management strategy.

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