The forest cover in the country has increased by nearly 4,000 sq.km. since the last assessment made in 1997, but the annual rate of forest plantation has come down by about 60,000 hectares during 1997-99 as compared to 1992-97.As per the "State of forest report 1999" released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests here on Tuesday, while the forest cover has increased to 6,37,293 sq.km from 6,33,397 sq.km in 1997, the annual rate of forest plantation has come down to 1,528,000 hectares during 1997-99 from 1,590,000 hectares during 1992-97.