The country recorded a decrease of 367 square km in forest cover last year, compared with 2009, according to India State of Forest Report 2011, released here on Tuesday. The forest and tree cover of the country stands at 78.29 million hectare, which is 23.81 per cent of the country's geographical area, said the report. “Compared with the 2009 assessment, after taking into account the interpretational changes, there is a decrease of 367 square km in the country's forest cover,” the report said. A total of 15 States registered an aggregate increase of 5,000 sq km in their forest cover with Punjab leading with increase of 100 sq km. But, 12 States/Union Territories have shown a decrease of 867 sq km. The decline of 281 sq km in forest cover in Andhra Pradesh has been mainly attributed to harvesting of mature plantation of eucalyptus & other species, the report said, and added that the fall in forest cover of the North East was particularly due to the practice of shifting cultivation. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country at 77,700 sq km, followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 67, 410 square km. In terms of percentage of forest cover in relation to total geographical area, Mizoram tops with 90.68 per cent followed by Lakshadweep with 84.56 per cent. The 12 India State of Forest Report was released by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Mr T. Chatterjee, is based on interpretation of satellite data recorded during October 2008-March 2009, according to an Environment Ministry release. This year's report has new chapters on detailed assessment of bamboo resources, a production-consumption assessment of wood-based on data stock in India's forests and an assessment of carbon stock in India's forests, which is important for the international dialogue on climate change, the release added