Increase in forest cover has been observed in open forest followed by very dense forest. Photo Credit: Bloomberg
Environment IndiaOne Fourth of This Country Is Now Covered with Trees
According to a recent survey, almost 25% of India’s total geographical area is now covered by trees, an outcome that also has a positive impact on the country’s carbon stock.
Based on data collected by the Forest Survey of India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has released the India State of Forest Report 2021: the report shows that the total forest and tree cover has now reached 80.9 million hectares – covering 24.62% of the country’s geographical area – with a 2,261 sq km increase of cover between 2019 and 2021.
As of 2021, a total of 17 states and union territories now have more than a third of their respective territory covered by trees and forest. Thanks to the improved forest surface, India’s total carbon stock has increased by 79.4 million tonnes between 2019 and 2021, has now reached around 7,204 million tonnes.
