The forest and tree cover in India risen by 5,188 square kilometers in the last two years. Karnataka is growing the maximum protection of 1,025 sq km. There is an increase of 3,976 sq. Km (0.56 percent) of forest cover and 1,212 sq. Km (1.29 percent) of tree cover compared to the 2017 report.
Different States – Forest
The three states in terms of forest cover are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Karnataka grew the maximum forest-and-tree protection at 1,025 sq km, Andhra Pradesh grew a 990-sq. Km cover and an 823-sq.km of forest cover created by Kerala in the last two years. Two other states followed are Jammu and Kashmir, which grew a 371-sq. Km forest cover, and Himachal Pradesh. The current assessment shows an increase of 544 sq. Km (0.19 percent) in 140 hill districts of the country. The forest data of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded through satellite imaging, covers areas outside LoC that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan and China. The north-east did not show positive results as the current assessment showed a decrease of forest cover to the extent of 765 sq. Km (0.45 percent) in the region. The total forest cover of India is 7,12,249 sq. Km is 21.67 percent of the geographical area of the country. The tree cover of the country is estimated at 95,027 sq. Km, which is 2.89 percent of the geographic area. India on track to achieve its climate goal of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes under the Paris Agreement.