Delhi is turning greener. Several years of extensive tree plantation drives across the Capital seem finally to have paid off with the forest cover increasing from 5.9 per cent in 1999 to 7.5 per cent in 2001 according to the latest available official figures. More, importantly, if one takes into account trees along the roadside and public parks, the total green cover touches 10.15 per cent. Also, Delhi is ranked 15th among States and Union Territories in respect of the percentage of geographic area under tree cover. According to the latest State of Forests Report brought out by the Forest Survey of India, Delhi's dense forest cover increased from 35 sq. km to 38 sq. km during 1999-2001, while open forest cover jumped from 53 sq. km to 73 sq. km.