New Project To Save Forests

Questions

Whether the Ministry proposes to launch a new project to save the forests of Himachal Pradesh.
If so, the details thereof and
Whether it is proposed to conduct a survey so that information regarding deforestation during the past years and its reasons could be obtained?

Answered by: Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav on 06.04.2023.

(a). No.

(b). Question does not arise.

(c). The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry has been carrying out the assessment of forest cover of the country, biennially since 1987, and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). As per latest ISFR 2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,789 square kilometres which is 21.71% of the geographical area of the country. The trend for the last three ISFRs shows an increase in forest cover of the country. The forest cover has increased by 3,976 square kilometre between ISFR 2017 and ISFR 2019 assessment while there is an increase of 1,540 square kilometre between ISFR 2019 and ISFR 2021 assessment. The Protection and management of forests are primarily the responsibility of concerned State/UT Governments, and various afforestation activities and forest protection measures are being taken up by the states to increase the forest cover and for sustainable management of the forests as per approved working plans.

As per the ISFR 2021, the forest cover of the state Himachal Pradesh has increased by 9 square kilometer as compared to the ISFR 2019.