NEW DELHI: India’s total forest cover increased by a modest 2.5% between 2010-11 and 2021-22, but the ‘very dense forest’ (VDF) segment recorded a significant 22.7% growth, according to the country’s first-ever national report on forest accounting released by the government on Thursday.
Prepared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) using the UN’s System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework, the report offers a detailed analysis of changes in forest cover, forest health, carbon storage, and regeneration trends over the past decade.
Key Highlights:
- Total forest cover (including VDF, moderately dense forest [MDF], and open forest) increased from 6,97,898 sq km in 2010-11 to 7,15,342 sq km in 2021-22, marking a net gain of 17,444 sq km.
- Very Dense Forests grew from 83,502 sq km to 1,02,502 sq km, an increase of 19,000 sq km or 22.7%, suggesting successful conservation and natural regeneration efforts.
- Moderately Dense Forests declined by 11,071 sq km, from 3,18,745 sq km to 3,07,673 sq km, indicating possible degradation or transition to either denser or more degraded categories.
- Open Forests expanded by 3.2%, from 2,95,651 sq km to 3,05,167 sq km.
Forest Density Classifications:
- Very Dense Forest (VDF): Tree canopy density ≥ 70%
- Moderately Dense Forest (MDF): Tree canopy density ≥ 40% but < 70%
- Open Forest: Tree canopy density ≥ 10% but < 40%
State-wise Gains:
- Kerala reported the highest increase in VDF, adding 4,137 sq km, followed by:
- Karnataka: +3,122 sq km
- Tamil Nadu: +2,606 sq km
Forest Condition and Vulnerabilities:
Beyond physical asset tracking, the report also assessed forest condition, covering:
- Growing stock (biomass volume)
- Carbon stock
- Economic value
- Regeneration status
The findings point to improvements in forest health, including increased biomass and carbon storage, along with a reduction in severe degradation. However, the report flags declining regeneration rates and rising wildfire risks as emerging vulnerabilities that demand immediate policy attention.
This landmark report is part of India’s efforts to integrate environmental data into national accounting and support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable forest and land management.
