That the forest resources of the country have always been under threat is nothing new. So when the Union Minister for Environment and Forests expressed concern about this precious resource touching a critical low while releasing the State of Forest Report -1997 recently, it did not come as a surprise.But what does is interpretation of data and facts on which the biennial forest assessment reports are compiled.A loss of 5,482 sq.km of forest area since 1995 is an alarming figure but if the adopted system of assessment comes under doubt,such figures can become more intimadating.