India State of Forest Report 2023

India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 has been biennially brought out by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) since 1987. FSI carries out an in-depth assessment of the country’s forest and tree resources based on the interpretation of remote sensing satellite data and field-based National Forest Inventory (NFI), and the results are published in the ISFR. The India State of Forest Report 2023 is the 18^th such report in the series. Read here to learn more.

The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, prepared by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), is a biennial assessment of India’s forest and tree cover.

It provides vital insights into the country’s green cover, biodiversity, and efforts toward climate change mitigation.

Read: India State of Forest Report 2021

Key Highlights of India State of Forest Report 2023

Forest and Tree Cover

• Total Forest Cover: India’s total forest cover stands at 7,15,343 square kilometres (21.76% of the geographical area).
• Tree Cover: Tree cover outside recorded forests is 1,12,014 square kilometres (3.14% of the geographical area).
• Combined Forest and Tree Cover: The total green cover is 8,27,357sq km, which is 25.17% of the country’s geographical area.

Net Changes in Forest Cover

• Increase: Net gain of 1445 square kilometres in forest and tree cover since ISFR 2021.
• This includes a 156 sq km increase in the forest cover and a 1289 sq km increase in tree cover.

Forest Types

• Very Dense Forest (VDF): 3.04% of the total area.
• Moderately Dense Forest (MDF): 9.33% of the total area.
• Open Forest (OF): 9.34% of the total area.

Mangrove Cover

• Area: India’s total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km in the country.
• Gujarat saw a decrease of 36.39 km² in mangrove cover.
• Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra experienced increases of 13.01 km² and 12.39 km², respectively.

Bamboo area

• The extent of bamboo bearing area for the country has been estimated as 1,54,670sq km.
• As compared to the last assessment done in 2021 there is an increase of 5,227 sq km in bamboo area.

States leading in forest and tree cover increase

The top four states showing a maximum increase in forest and tree cover are:

1. Chhattisgarh (684 sq km)
2. Uttar Pradesh (559 sq km)
3. Odisha (559 sq km)
4. Rajasthan (394 sq km).

The top three states showing a maximum increase in forest cover are:

1. Mizoram (242 sq km)
2. Gujarat (180 sq km)
3. Odisha (152 sq km).

Area wise top three states having the largest forest and tree cover are:

1. Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq km)
2. Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq km)
3. Maharashtra (65,383 sq km).

Area wise top three states having the largest forest cover are:

1. Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km)
2. Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km)
3. Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km).

In terms of the percentage of forest cover concerning total geographical area:

1. Lakshadweep (91.33 per cent)
2. Mizoram (85.34 percent)
3. Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.62 percent).

The present assessment also reveals that 19 states/UTs have more than 33 per cent of the geographical area under forest cover.

Out of these, eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 per cent.

Carbon Sequestration and Climate Action

• Carbon Stock: The total estimated carbon stock is 7,285.5 million tonnes, a rise of 81.5 million tonnes since 2021.
• Climate Mitigation: Forests act as a carbon sink, contributing significantly to India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The current assessment shows that India’s carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent; which indicates that as compared to the base year of 2005, India has already reached 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink as against the target of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes by 2030.

Biodiversity Highlights

• Recorded Biodiversity Hotspots: Western Ghats, Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland regions feature prominently in the report.
• The Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas (WGESA) covers 60,285.61 km², with 44,043.99 km² (73%) under forest cover.
• Increase in Greenery: The forest cover of the country has shown an increase of 16,630.25 sq. km since 2013.
• Soil Health: There is a general improvement in soil health (87.16% of shallow to deep soil as against 83.53% in 2013) reflected by improvement in humus.
• Biotic influences: Biotic influences on forests have also come down to 26.66% from 31.28% in 2013 which indicates improved floral biodiversity, and improved surroundings for faunal biodiversity.

Biotic Influences

Biotic influences refer to the impacts and interactions of living organisms within an ecosystem. These interactions shape the environment and influence the structure, function, and dynamics of ecological systems.

Categories of Biotic Influences:

1. Producers (Autotrophs):
   • Plants, algae, and certain bacteria synthesize their food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
   • Example: Trees in a forest provide oxygen and food for herbivores.
2. Consumers (Heterotrophs):
   • Organisms that rely on others for food, including:
     • Primary Consumers (herbivores): Eat producers.
     • Secondary Consumers (carnivores): Eat herbivores.
     • Tertiary Consumers: Top predators in the food chain.
   • Example: Deer grazing on grass or lions preying on zebras.
3. Decomposers (Detritivores):
   • Break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
   • Example: Fungi and bacteria decomposing dead plants and animals.

Types of Biotic Interactions:

1. Mutualism:
   • Both species benefit.
   • Example: Bees pollinate flowers while feeding on nectar.
2. Commensalism:
   • One species benefits while the other remains unaffected.
   • Example: Birds nesting in trees.
3. Parasitism:
   • One species benefits at the expense of another.
   • Example: Ticks feeding on mammals.
4. Competition:
   • Organisms vie for the same resources (e.g., food, shelter, mates).
   • Example: Trees compete for sunlight in a dense forest.
5. Predation:
   • One organism (predator) feeds on another (prey).
   • Example: Wolves hunting deer.

Examples of Biotic Influences in Ecosystems:

1. Tropical Rainforest:
   • High biodiversity leads to complex interactions like mutualism between ants and acacia trees.
   • Competition for light among tall trees shapes the canopy.
2. Ocean Ecosystems:
   • Coral reefs depend on the symbiotic relationship between corals and zooxanthellae algae.
   • Predators like sharks regulate fish populations.
3. Agricultural Systems:
   • Pests (biotic stress) can reduce crop yields.
   • Pollinators like bees enhance fruit and seed production.

Human Influence on Biotic Factors:

1. Deforestation: Reduces biodiversity and disrupts biotic interactions.
2. Overfishing: Alters food chains in aquatic ecosystems.
3. Introduction of Invasive Species: Outcompetes native species, disrupting ecosystems.

Special Focus Areas of ISFR 2023

• Deforestation: Northeastern states continue to face challenges due to shifting cultivation and infrastructure development.
• Forest fires: The top three states with the most fire incidents in the 2023-24 season are Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
• Agroforestry: Increased focus on integrating trees with agriculture to boost rural incomes and biodiversity.
• Urban Green Spaces: Cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad show progress in enhancing urban green spaces.
• People’s Participation: Community-led initiatives like Joint Forest Management (JFM) show promising results.

Way Forward

• Conservation Initiatives:
  • Promote afforestation and reforestation programs like CAMPA.
  • Focus on restoring degraded lands.
• Policy Strengthening: Align forest management policies with India’s Net Zero targets by 2070.
• Technology Adoption: Use of GIS and satellite monitoring for real-time tracking of forest changes.
• Community Engagement: Empower local communities for sustainable forest management.

Conclusion

ISFR 2023 underscores India’s strides in sustainable forest management and highlights areas for further action. These efforts are pivotal in combating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Besides providing vital information for monitoring the country’s forest and tree resources, the data given in the ISFR serves as a useful source of information for the policymakers, planners, State Forest Departments, research organisations, line agencies involved in various developmental works, academicians, civil society and others interested in natural resource conservation and management.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which state has the highest forest area in India in 2023?

Ans: Area-wise wise top three states having the largest forest and tree cover are Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq km) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq km) and Maharashtra (65,383 sq km).

Q. Which country has the highest forest cover?

Ans: Russia is home to the largest area of forest – over 800 million hectares. Brazil, the United States, Canada, China, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo also have large areas of forested land – more than 100 million hectares each.

Related articles:

• India state of forest report 2019
• Forest: Know the different types
• Mangrove forest in India
• Forest management: National working plan code

-Article by Swathi Satish