(a) whether the forest cover of the country has been continuously depleting;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government has formulated an appropriate programme for adequate development and conservation of forest cover in the country and for the development of forest based industries and people working therein; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the funds released in this regard during the last three years?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a)& (b) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment
of forest and tree cover (FTC) of the country biennially and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The total FTC of the country, as per the ISFR 2019 is 8,07,276 km2 which is 24.56% of the total geographical area of the country. This is an increase of 5,188 km2 (forest cover 3,976 km2 and tree cover 1,212 km2) as compared to that of FTC in ISFR-2017 and 13,209 km2 (forest cover 10,754 km2, tree cover 2,455 km2) as compared to FTC in ISFR, 2015. The State/Union Territories wise increase in forest cover as per ISFR 2015, 2017 and 2019 are given in Annexure-I.
(c) & (d) For development and conservation of the forest cover in the country, Ministry has been taking several initiatives. These include ongoing Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Ministry such as National Afforestation Programme, National Mission for a Green India and Development of Wildlife Habitats. Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018 also contain provisions for taking up assisted natural regeneration, artificial regeneration and silvicultural operations in forests which contribute to increase in forest cover. Afforestation activities are also taken up by other Ministries under various programmes/funding sources such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and under the schemes/plans of States and Union Territories (UTs).
Further, Government of India has taken the following steps for growth and progress of Forest Based Industries:-
(i) Ministry of Agriculture had formulated the National Agroforestry Policy 2014 with the objectives, inter alia, to meet the raw material requirements of wood based industries and reduce import of wood and wood products to save foreign exchange.
(ii) Ministry has issued suggestive guidelines for felling and transit regulation for tree species grown on non-forest private land with an aim to create a conducive environment, which encourages plantation of trees on farmlands/homestead.
(iii) Ministry has issued Wood Based Industries (Establishment and Regulation) Guidelines, 2016 and subsequent amendments made therein to streamline the regulatory processes concerning the wood based industries for the development of the sector in the country.
State/UT-wise details of funds released under Compensatory Afforestation Funds, Green India Mission and National Afforestation Programme for the last three years are given in Annexure-II, III and IV respectively.
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