Question raised in Lok Sabha on Decline in Forest Cover, 11/08/2015
Question raised in Lok Sabha on Decline in Forest Cover, 11/08/2015. As per India State of Forest Report-2013, the total forest cover in the country is 697,898 square kilometers which is 21.23% of the total geographical area of the country. There is a net increase of 5871 square kilometers in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report-2011. The detailed list showing increase/decrease in forest cover State/UTs wise is given in Annexure-I. The reason for decline in the forest cover State/UTs wise is given in the Annexure II. 12 States have furnished digital boundaries of Recorded Forest Areas (RFA) to Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. The details are given in Annexure-III. The Ministry provides Grants-in-aid to the States/ Union Territories Governments for growth, protection and preservation of forests under Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS). The details of funds sanctioned, released and utilized under Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) for the last three years are given in Annexure-IV.