In 2 years, India added a Delhi and Goa in green cover
India’s
green cover increased by 5,188 sq km (0.6%), an area the size of Goa and Delhi
put together, in the past two years, shows a new assessment report of the
government on the status of forest and tree covers in the country, released on
Monday.
The increase accounts for rise in forest cover by 3,976 sq km
and tree cover by 1,212 sq km, putting the total green cover of India at
8,07,276 sq km which is 24.56% of the country’s geographical area.
Without accounting for tree cover (95,027 sq km)
which includes trees in all formations including scattered trees on roadside or
elsewhere, the total forest cover of the country stands at 7,12,249 sq km which
is 21.67% of the geographical area. The forest cover alone too recorded an
increase of nearly 0.6% this year compared to 2017. Analysis of past reports
shows that the country has consistently been recording increase in forest cover
since 2011.
Referring to increase in forest and tree covers,
Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar said, “This is the result of
sustained conservation, protection and afforestation efforts implemented on the
ground under the policies of the national government and state governments.”
