The fast vanishing green cover of Orissa has alarmed environmentalists, who blame the increasing biotic pressure on the forests as much for the phenomenon as the Government's failure to strictly implement the compensatory afforestation programme. On a rough estimate, the State has lost no less than 27,000 hectares of forests to various Government-approved projects, but against this, compensatory afforestation has been launched only in 20,158 hectares of land. What is even more alarming is the fact that the funds earmarked for the purpose are either being diverted with impunity or sanctioned inordinately late to be of any real use.