Forest and Wildlife

Some of the basic objectives of the policy-

• Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation.
• Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests.
• Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchments areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs.
• Checking the extension of sand-dunes in the desert areas

Protected Forests: These are areas designated for protection, often due to their ecological importance or the need to preserve certain resources.

National Forests: These are forests managed by the government for their economic and social benefits, often including timber production and other uses.

Village Forests: These are forests assigned to a village community for their traditional and customary use, typically for fuel, fodder, and other essential needs.

Tree-lands: These are areas where trees are grown, often on land that is not suitable for other uses, like roadsides, canals, or agricultural land.

(i) Afforestation and Wasteland development.

(ii) Reforestation and Replantation in existing forests.

(iii) Encouraging wood substitude and supplying other types of fuel.

Promotion of wide use of insecticides and pesticides is not Included in the National Forest Policy.

Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests with the vast variety of flora and fauna, which represent the remarkable biological diversity and genetic resources of the country. Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs in the "interest of soil and water conservation, for mitigating floods and droughts and for the retardation of siltation of reservoirs.

Checking the extension of sand-dunes in the desert areas of Rajasthan and along the coastal tracts. Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through massive afforestation and social forestry programmes, especially on all denuded degraded and unproductive lands. Meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal populations.

Increasing the productivity of forests to meet essential national needs. Encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and maximising substitution of wood. Creating a massive people's movement with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives and to minimise pressure on existing forests.

India State of Forest Report, 2023:

Total forest and tree cover: Increased to 25.17% of geographical area compared to 2021 assessment (24.62%).

• It includes 21.76% Forest cover and 3.41% Tree cover.
• Maximum increase: Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• 19 states/UTs have forest cover above 33% of area. Out of these eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
• National Forest Policy, 1988 provides for having a minimum of 1/3rd of total land area of country under forest or tree cover as a national goal.
• Mangrove cover: Total mangrove cover is 4,992 km2 in country (Decrease of 7.43 km2 compared to 2021).
• Gujarat saw a decrease whereas Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra saw an increase.
• Target under Nationally Determined Contributions: Carbon stock has reached 30.43 Bt of CO₂ equivalent, indicating that India has reached 2.29 Bt of additional carbon sink (compared to 2005) as against target of 2.5 to 3.0 Bt by 2030.
• Extent of bamboo bearing area: Estimated at 1, 54,670 km2 (Increase of 5,227 km2 as compared to 2021).

India State of Forest Report, 2023:

Total forest and tree cover: Increased to 25.17% of geographical area compared to 2021 assessment (24.62%).

• It includes 21.76% Forest cover and 3.41% Tree cover.
• Maximum increase: Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• 19 states/UTs have forest cover above 33% of area. Out of these eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
• National Forest Policy, 1988 provides for having a minimum of 1/3rd of total land area of country under forest or tree cover as a national goal.
• Mangrove cover: Total mangrove cover is 4,992 km2 in country (Decrease of 7.43 km2 compared to 2021).
• Gujarat saw a decrease whereas Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra saw an increase.
• Target under Nationally Determined Contributions: Carbon stock has reached 30.43 Bt of CO₂ equivalent, indicating that India has reached 2.29 Bt of additional carbon sink (compared to 2005) as against target of 2.5 to 3.0 Bt by 2030.
• Extent of bamboo bearing area: Estimated at 1, 54,670 km2 (Increase of 5,227 km2 as compared to 2021).

India State of Forest Report, 2023:

Total forest and tree cover: Increased to 25.17% of geographical area compared to 2021 assessment (24.62%).

• It includes 21.76% Forest cover and 3.41% Tree cover.
• Maximum increase: Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• 19 states/UTs have forest cover above 33% of area. Out of these eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
• National Forest Policy, 1988 provides for having a minimum of 1/3rd of total land area of country under forest or tree cover as a national goal.
• Mangrove cover: Total mangrove cover is 4,992 km2 in country (Decrease of 7.43 km2 compared to 2021).
• Gujarat saw a decrease whereas Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra saw an increase.
• Target under Nationally Determined Contributions: Carbon stock has reached 30.43 Bt of CO₂ equivalent, indicating that India has reached 2.29 Bt of additional carbon sink (compared to 2005) as against target of 2.5 to 3.0 Bt by 2030.
• Extent of bamboo bearing area: Estimated at 1, 54,670 km2 (Increase of 5,227 km2 as compared to 2021).

India State of Forest Report, 2023:

Total forest and tree cover: Increased to 25.17% of geographical area compared to 2021 assessment (24.62%).

• It includes 21.76% Forest cover and 3.41% Tree cover.
• Maximum increase: Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• 19 states/UTs have forest cover above 33% of area. Out of these eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75 percent.
• National Forest Policy, 1988 provides for having a minimum of 1/3rd of total land area of country under forest or tree cover as a national goal.
• Mangrove cover: Total mangrove cover is 4,992 km2 in country (Decrease of 7.43 km2 compared to 2021).
• Gujarat saw a decrease whereas Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra saw an increase.
• Target under Nationally Determined Contributions: Carbon stock has reached 30.43 Bt of CO₂ equivalent, indicating that India has reached 2.29 Bt of additional carbon sink (compared to 2005) as against target of 2.5 to 3.0 Bt by 2030.
• Extent of bamboo bearing area: Estimated at 1, 54,670 km2 (Increase of 5,227 km2 as compared to 2021).