Green cover rises in five industrialised states

For long, industrialised states were looked upon as the ones trading forest cover for development. However, a recent report by the Forest Survey of India showed five of the nine most industrialised states were able to increase their green cover in 2011, compared to 2009. Between 2001 and 2010, these nine states contributed 60 per cent towards the country’s gross domestic product output.

Data analysed by Business Standard showed the five states added 178 sq km of forests. The states were Tamil Nadu (74 sq km), Rajasthan (51 sq km), Orissa (48 sq km), Karnataka (four sq km) and West Bengal (one sq km).

The net losers of forest included Andhra Pradesh (281 sq km), Maharashtra (four sq km), Uttar Pradesh (three sq km) and Gujarat (one sq km).

The report blamed Naxal activities for forest cover depletion in some states. The Andhra Pradesh government attributed forest loss in the state to Naxals felling trees in Warangal and Khammam districts.

According to Director General of Forest Survey of India A K Wahal: “Losses of forest cover in the industrialised states were mostly due to non-industrial purposes such as cutting of trees by Naxals and plantation of eucalyptus trees by state governments. A very marginal forest cover was lost due to clearances to industrial projects.” Although the numbers looked rosy on the chart, activists argue a thorough study should be conducted by the environment ministry on biodiversity. The survey did not demarcate natural forests from plantations. They feel the growth in forestry in some states is mostly due to ‘monocultural’ plantations, which cannot compensate the loss in biodiversity-rich natural forests. India’s forest cover shrank by 367 sq km, with the maximum 80 per cent loss recorded in Andhra Pradesh. Decline in 281 sq km forest cover in Andhra Pradesh was also attributed to harvesting of mature plantation of eucalyptus and other species.

Forest and tree cover of the country, according to the biennial assessment report, was 78.3 million hectares, 23.8 per cent of the geographical area.

Fifteen states registered an aggregate increase of 500 sq km in their forest cover, with Punjab leading with an increase of 100 sq km. The growth in Punjab’s forest cover was due to agroforestry. Twelve states and Union Territories, mainly from the northeast, showed a decline of 867 sq km. The report attributed the fall to the prevailing practice of shifting cultivation in the region, among others.

Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in India at 77,770 sq km, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (67,410 sq km).