Recently, the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.

About ISFR (India State of Forest Report)

• Published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• First report was published in 1987; the 2023 report is the 18th edition.
• The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock, carbon stock in India’s forests, instances of forest fire, Agroforestry, etc.

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Forest Cover Mapping

• Definition: Land more than 1 hectare in area, with a tree canopy and density of more than 10%, “including tree orchards, bamboo, palms etc.
• Classification of Forest:
  • Very Dense Forest (VDF): Canopy density ≥70%.
  • Moderately Dense Forest (MDF): Canopy density 40–70%.
  • Open Forest (OF): Canopy density 10–40%.
  • Scrub: Canopy density < 10 %, generally with shrubs interspersed with trees.
• Data Source: Utilizes satellite imagery from ISRO’s LISS-III sensor on IRS Resourcesat satellites.

Key Highlights

• Forest and Tree Cover in India:
  • Total Forest and Tree Cover: 8,27,356.95 sq km (25.17% of India’s geographical area).
  • Forest Cover: 7,15,342.61 sq km (21.76% of geographical area).
  • Tree Cover: 1,12,014.34 sq km (3.41% of geographical area).
• Mangrove Cover:
  • Total Mangrove Cover: 4,992 sq km (0.15%) of the geographical area.
  • Net Mangrove Cover decrease from 2021: 7.43 sq km
  • Decrease: Highest losses in Gujarat (-36.39 sq km).
  • Increase: Andhra Pradesh (+13.01 sq km) and Maharashtra (+12.39 sq km).

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State Rankings: Highest Percentage Forest Cover

States with Maximum Changes in Forest Cover

• Carbon Stock:
  • Total carbon stock: 7,285.5 million tonnes.
  • Increase of 81.5 million tonnes since 2021.
  • Soil organic carbon accounts for 55.06% of the total stock.
• Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas (WGESA):
  • Forest cover in Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas: 44,043.99 sq km (73% of WGESA).
  • Loss over 10 years: 58.22 sq km.
• Forest Cover in the North Eastern Region:
  • The total forest cover in the North Eastern Region is 1,74,394.70 square kilometers, which is 67% of the geographical area of this region.
  • The North Eastern Region recorded a decline of 327.30 square kilometers in forest cover.
  • Mizoram recorded an increase of 178 square kilometers in forest cover.
• Forest Cover in Hill Districts:
  • The total forest cover in hill districts of India is 2,83,713.20 square kilometers, which accounts for 40% of the geographical area of these districts.
  • The forest cover in hill districts has increased by 234.14 square kilometers since 2021.
• Agroforestry:
  • The total tree green cover under agroforestry in India is estimated at 1,27,590.05 square kilometers.
  • There has been an increase of 21,286.57 square kilometers in agroforestry tree green cover since 2013.
  • The total growing stock under agroforestry is estimated at 1,291.68 million cubic meters, showing a 28.56% increase compared to 2013.

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India’s National Commitments Related to Forests and Environment:

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement:
  • India aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030 through afforestation and tree cover enhancement.
  • Current progress: Achieved an additional 2.29 billion tonnes of carbon sink since 2005.
• Green India Mission (GIM):
  • Aims to increase forest/tree cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of another 5 million hectares.
  • Focuses on ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and enhancing forest-based livelihoods.
• Community Participation: Joint Forest Management (JFM): 
  • Engages local communities in forest protection, afforestation, and sustainable management.

India’s Global Commitments Related to Forests and Environment

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1992): The UNFCCC is an international treaty aimed at addressing climate change and its impacts.
  • As a party to the convention, India is required to report on greenhouse gas emissions and activities related to land use, forestry, and land-use change (LULUCF).
• Kyoto Protocol (1997): Operationalizes UNFCCC by mandating industrialized nations to reduce GHG emissions with specified targets.
• Paris Agreement (2015): Focuses on limiting global warming below 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) and emphasizes the role of forests in climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 15 (“Life on Land”) targets forest conservation and restoration; other relevant SDGs include SDG 14, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 13.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Negotiated and signed at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and came into force in 1993.
  • Obligates India to conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use, and achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets, including forest habitat conservation (Target 5).
• New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF): Launched in 2014 at the United Nations Climate Summit
  • Aims to halve deforestation by 2020, end it by 2030, and promote sustainable forest management and restoration.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): Adopted in 1994 and entered into force in 1996.
  • Legally binds nations to combat desertification, drought impacts, and promote sustainable land management.
• Bonn Challenge: Launched in 2011 by the German government and IUCN
  • Global effort to restore degraded lands, with India committing to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.
• Asia Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) (1949): A regional commission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that provides a forum for countries to discuss forest issues.
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971): Recognizes the ecological importance of wetlands, including mangroves, and promotes their conservation and sustainable use.

Challenges Highlighted in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023

• Decline in Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) and Open Forest (OF): Significant reductions observed in MDF and OF areas across various states due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure projects.
• Deforestation in Eco-Sensitive Zones: In the Western Ghats, forest cover in the eco-sensitive zones reduced by 58.22 sq km over a decade.
  • Declines in forest areas in biodiversity hotspots pose a risk to ecological balance and species preservation.
• Forest Fire Vulnerability: Increasing instances of forest fires have led to degradation of large forest areas, affecting biodiversity and regeneration capacity.
  • Top three Stares where fire incidences have been observed the most in 2023-24 season are Uttarakhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
  • About 32.06% of forests are classified as “highly fire-prone”​
• Pressure on Forest Resources: Rising demand for timber, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and fuelwood continues to exert unsustainable pressure on forest ecosystems.
• Fragmentation and Habitat Loss: Infrastructure projects, mining, and urban sprawl contribute to habitat fragmentation, particularly in the Himalayan and Western Ghats regions.
• Management and Monitoring Gaps: Lack of comprehensive monitoring and enforcement mechanisms in forested areas exacerbates issues such as illegal logging and encroachment.
• Unsustainable Resource Use: Overextraction of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), grazing, and wood collection lead to forest degradation.
• Biodiversity Loss: Habitat loss and poaching are causing declines in native flora and fauna, particularly in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats.
• Pressure on Forest Resources: High dependency of rural and tribal communities on forest products exacerbates resource depletion.
• Desertification: Deforestation contributes to desertification and soil erosion, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
• Eco-sensitive Zone Reduction: Forest cover in ecologically sensitive regions such as the Western Ghats has shown a consistent decline over time.

Way Forward for Addressing Threats to India’s Forests

• Strengthen Policy Implementation: Enforce existing forest conservation laws like the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and ensure strict penalties for violations such as illegal logging and encroachment.
• Promote Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): Implement scientific forest management practices that balance conservation with resource utilization, including sustainable harvesting of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs).
• Community Participation: Enhance the involvement of local communities and tribal populations through programs like Joint Forest Management (JFM) to ensure sustainable use and conservation of forest resources.
• Combat Climate Change and Invasive Species: Develop adaptive strategies to mitigate climate impacts on forests, including reforestation with native species and managing invasive plants like Lantana camara.
• Expand Afforestation and Restoration Efforts: Scale up initiatives like the Green India Mission and Bonn Challenge to restore degraded landscapes and enhance carbon sequestration.
• Utilize Technology for Monitoring: Leverage satellite imagery, GIS mapping, and real-time forest fire alert systems for effective monitoring, assessment, and response to threats.
• Focus on Biodiversity Hotspots and Mangroves: Prioritize conservation in ecologically sensitive areas like the Western Ghats, Northeast India, and mangrove ecosystems to preserve biodiversity and enhance resilience against climate change.
• Awareness and Education: Promote public awareness about the significance of forest conservation through campaigns like “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”.

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Conclusion

India’s forests are critical for ecological balance, biodiversity, and climate mitigation. Addressing the challenges of deforestation, degradation, and climate change requires robust policies, community engagement, and technological interventions. A sustainable and inclusive approach will ensure the preservation and restoration of forests for future generations.

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