INDIA STATE OF FOREST REPORT 2019 (ISFR 2019)

ISFR is a biennial publication of Forest Survey Of India ( FSI ), an organization under the Ministry Of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. The ISFR assesses the forest and tree cover, carbon stock, bamboo resources and forest fires. The 2019 report for the first time has assessed the qualitative nature of the forest cover and created a national forest inventory for the first time on produce from forests.

According to this report, the forest area in the country has increased by 5188 square km in the last 2 years. This green area covers about 25% of the total geographic area of the country.

The top 5 states to have shown an increase in forest cover include-

1.    Karnataka (1025 sq. Km)

2.    Andhra Pradesh (990 sq. Km)

3.    Kerala  (823 sq. Km)

4.    J & K (371 sq. Km)

5.    Himachal Pradesh (334 sq. Km)

The report has also recorded the total mangrove area in the country to be 4975 square kilometres. Finally it has recorded the total carbon stock of the country to be equivalent to 71.24 million tonnes.

Agni Dash

Content Writer, PECUC