The India State of Forest Report 2019

Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.

The India State of Forest Report 2019

What to study?

For Prelims: Key findings.

For Mains: Concerns expressed, challenges and ways to address them.

Context: The India State of Forest Report 2019 has been released.

Key findings:

1. Total tree and forest cover in the country increased by 5,188 square kilometer in the last two years.
2. There is an increase of 42.6 million tonnes in the carbon stock of the country as compared to the last assessment of 2017.
3. There is a decrease of forest cover to the extent of 765 sq km (0.45 per cent) in northeast India region. Except Assam and Tripura, all states in the region show decrease in forest cover.
4. The loss in the North East is attributed primarily due to the traditional farming practice of Shifting Cultivation.
5. The mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq km (1.10 per cent) as compared to the previous assessment.
6. Karnataka tops the country in growing the maximum amount of forest in the last two years.
7. Karnataka is followed by Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km) and Kerala (823 sq km).
8. Total bamboo bearing area of the country is estimated as 1,60,037 sq km. There is an increase of 3,229 sq km in bamboo bearing area as compared to the previous estimate.

Sources: the Hindu.