December 21, 2024: India’s forest and tree cover has reached 827,357 square kilometers, covering 25.17% of the country’s total geographical area, as revealed in the State of Forest Report 2023 released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI). The report, which was delayed by over a year, marks an increase of 1,445 square kilometers in forest and tree cover compared to the last assessment in 2021, nearly equivalent to the area of Delhi.

Of the total area, 715,343 square kilometers are classified as forest cover, representing 21.76% of the country, while tree cover spans 112,014 square kilometers, or 3.41%. The increase in forest and tree cover is a positive indicator, with Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan emerging as the top states showing the largest growth.

Chhattisgarh led the way with a 684 square kilometer increase, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, both of which saw gains of 559 square kilometers. Rajasthan saw an increase of 394 square kilometers. Among states with the most substantial forest cover increases, Mizoram, Gujarat, and Odisha topped the list, adding 242, 180, and 152 square kilometers, respectively.

In terms of the total forest and tree cover area, the largest contributors are Madhya Pradesh (85,724 square kilometers), Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 square kilometers), and Maharashtra (65,383 square kilometers).

The report also highlights India’s progress in meeting its carbon sequestration targets under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) framework. India’s total carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, surpassing the 2005 base year by 2.29 billion tonnes and approaching the target of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.

A new chapter focusing on agroforestry has been included in this year’s report, providing a detailed assessment of its impact on forest and tree cover. Additionally, the report’s scope has expanded to include data from 751 districts, a significant increase from the 636 districts assessed in previous reports.

The State of Forest Report 2023 serves as a key document in tracking India’s environmental health and its efforts towards achieving sustainability and addressing climate change.