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The India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) was released by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. This biennial report, published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), assesses the forest and tree resources of the country based on satellite data and field-based inventories. The ISFR 2023 is the 18th edition of this report, with the first published in 1987.

Key Findings

• Total Forest and Tree Cover:
  • Area: 827,357 sq km (25.17% of India's geographical area)
  • Breakdown:
    • Forest cover: 715,343 sq km (21.76%)
    • Tree cover: 112,014 sq km (3.41%)
  • Increase from 2021: An increase of 1,445 sq km, including:
    • Forest cover: +156 sq km
    • Tree cover: +1,289 sq km
• State-wise Forest and Tree Cover:
  • Top 3 States by Total Forest and Tree Cover Area:
    • Madhya Pradesh (85,724 sq km)
    • Arunachal Pradesh (67,083 sq km)
    • Maharashtra (65,383 sq km)
  • Top 3 States by Forest Cover:
    • Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km)
    • Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km)
    • Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km)
  • States with Maximum Increase in Forest and Tree Cover:
    • Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan
    • Mizoram, Gujarat, and Odisha showed the most significant increase in forest cover.
• Forest Cover Percentage (as a proportion of total geographical area):
  • Lakshadweep: 91.33% (Highest)
  • Mizoram: 85.34%
  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 81.62%
  • 19 States/UTs have over 33% forest cover, with 8 states having more than 75%.
• Mangrove Cover:
  • Total Mangrove Cover: 4,992 sq km (a decrease of 7.43 sq km from 2021).
  • Notable Changes: Gujarat saw the largest loss of mangroves, whereas Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra reported increases.
• Carbon Stock and Climate Targets:
  • Total Carbon Stock: 7,285.5 million tonnes (an increase of 81.5 million tonnes from the previous assessment).
  • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC):
    • India’s carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
    • Achieved an additional 2.29 billion tonnes of carbon sink compared to the 2005 baseline, towards the 2030 target of 2.5-3.0 billion tonnes.
• Bamboo and Timber Production:
  • Bamboo Bearing Area: Estimated at 154,670 sq km, an increase of 5,227 sq km since 2021.
  • Timber Potential: Estimated annual potential production of 91.51 million cubic meters from trees outside forests.

Achievements:

• There has been a notable increase in the forest and tree cover, particularly in states like Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• The carbon stock in forests has increased, helping India make significant progress in its climate change mitigation goals.
• The bamboo bearing area has also expanded, promoting biodiversity and economic benefits through bamboo cultivation.

Concerns:

• Mangrove Loss: Gujarat experienced a notable decrease in mangrove area, highlighting the need for focused conservation efforts in coastal regions.

Forest Survey of India (FSI) Overview

• Established: 1981, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Mission: To assess, monitor, and research forest resources across India, providing data for sustainable management, national planning, and conservation.
• Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand.