(a) whether as per the Forest Policy, one-third of the total land area of the country is to be brought under
forest cover;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the requisite area of land is available for afforestation in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the action plan formulated or being formulated by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) to(e) As per the National Forest Policy,1988 the national goal is to have a minimum of one-third of the total
land area of the country under forest or tree cover. In the hills and in mountainous regions, the aim is to maintain
two-third of the area under such cover. According to the ‘India State of Forest Report 2009’ of Forest Survey of
India, the forest and tree cover in the country is 78.37 million ha. in 2007, which is 23.84 % of the geographical
area. As recorded forest area available is limited, the requirement for rest of the land for Afforestation for
forest and tree cover needs to be on non forest land. The National Afforestation Programme, a Centrally Sponsored
Scheme; Additional Central Assistance for ‘Accelerated Programme of Restoration and Regeneration of Forest Cover’,
a new State Plan Scheme; Eco-Development Force Scheme, a Central Scheme; NREGS having Afforestation/Tree Planting
activities in its schedule and other Central and State Schemes help in achieving the Policy objectives.