367 Km2 Loss of Forest Cover
As per the India State of Forest Report 2011 there is a net loss of 367 Km2 of forest cover between the 2011 assessment (data period pertaining to 2008-2009) and 2009 assessment (data period pertaining to 2006-2007).
The implementation of afforestation and conservation programmes for expanding green cover has in fact contributed towards increase in the forest cover. Hence, 15 States have registered aggregate increase of 500 Km2 in their forest cover with Punjab leading with increase of 100 Km2. However, the decline of forest cover to the extent of 867 Km2 in States such as Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram etc. is due to various reasons like shifting cultivation, rotational harvesting, biotic pressures etc.
The above information was laid in the Parliament by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan.
