The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), endeavours to conduct a biennial exercise known as the Forest Survey to estimate India’s forest cover. The survey’s findings include trees in designated forest areas, as well as those outside these defined zones, such as plantations on private lands. However, concerns have been raised about the ecological validity of this all-encompassing scope.
The Recommendation of the MoEFCC
In a move away from generalising data, a high-power committee of the MoEFCC stressed the need for Forest Surveys to demarcate trees grown in forests from those grown outside, such as in plantations and private lands. This distinction is seen as vital due to the different ecological implications of trees in forest settings compared to those in man-made establishments.
India’s Long-Standing Forest Goal
The government has set a long-standing goal since 1988 to ensure at least 33% of India’s geographical area is forested. However, evaluations of the State of Forest Report (SFR) over the years reveal a figure hovering around 21%, indicating a significant gap in achieving the target.
State of Forest Report 2017 Insights
The SFR 2017 observed a marginal rise of only 0.21% in the total forest area between 2015 and 2017. The country now boasts a total of approximately 708,273 sq. km. of forest, which constitutes 21.53% of the country’s total geographical expanse (3,287,569 sq. km.). Interestingly, there was also a 2% increase in the tree cover, from around 92,500 sq. km. in 2015 to 93,815 sq. km. in 2017.
The Essential Role of Forest Survey of India (FSI)
The FSI, a leading national institution under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, is charged with the crucial task of regularly assessing and monitoring India’s forest resources.
Dissecting the Definitions: Forest Cover & Tree Cover
To ensure clarity, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change offers clear definitions for ‘forest cover’ and ‘tree cover’. The first term refers to an area greater than one hectare with a tree canopy density exceeding 10%, while the latter signifies tree patches outside recorded forest areas that fall short of the minimum mappable area of one hectare.
| Year | Total Tree Cover (sq. km.) | Tree Cover as % of India’s Geographic Area |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 92,500 | 2.82% |
| 2017 | 93,815 | 2.95% |
The Controversy of Including Plantations and Private Lands
The inclusion of substantial patches of trees grown outside traditional forest zones, such as plantations and private lands, in the Forest Survey count remains a point of debate. Critics argue that combining these different types of green spaces does not provide an accurate or ecologically sound understanding of the nation’s true forest cover.