(a) whether the Government have conducted any survey to ascertain the present position of forests in the country ;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there are number of district which are without forests;
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(e) whether the Government propose to improve the position of forests in these districts;
(f) if so, the action plan formulated by the Government in this regard; and
(g) if not , the reason therefor?
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R.BAALU)
(a) to (g) A statement is laid on the Table of house .
STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PART (a) to (g) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 FOR 27.11.2000 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT IN FORESTS
(a) Yes, Sir , Forest Survey of India is assessing forest cover of the country using
satellite data biennially since 1987.
(b)to (d) The details are given in Annexure.
(e) Yes, Sir.
(f) Details of the action plan of the Government are:
(i) Afforestation programmes are undertaken by State Governments/UT Administrations from their own resources as well as with financial assistance from Government of India.
(ii) Externally aided projects are being implemented for development and preservation of forests.
(iii) Guidelines have been issued to all States/UTs to involve village communities in protection and regeneration of degraded forests.
(iv) Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been enacted to regulate the diversion of forest land for non forestry purposes.
(v) A net work of protected areas has been established.
(vi) Ministry of Environment and Forests has prepared a National Forestry Action Programme to enhance the contribution of forestry and tree resources for ecological stability and people centered development through increased investments in conservation and development of forest resources.
(g) Does not arise.
ANNEXURE IN RESPECT OF PART (b), (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 105 FOR 27.11.2000 REGARDING IMPROVEMENT OF FORESTS.
State-wise forest cover as per State of Forest Report, 1999
State/UT Total forest Cover (sq.km) No. of Districts without discernible forest cover as per State of Forest Report 1999
Andhra Pradesh 44,229 Nil Arunachal Pra. 68,847 Nil Assam 23,688 Nil Bihar 4,830 15 Chhatisgarh 56,693 Nil Delhi 88 Nil Goa 1,251 Nil Gujarat 12,965 Nil Haryana 964 Nil Himachal Pra. 13,082 Nil Jammu & Kashmir 20,441 Nil Jharkhand 21,644 Nil Karnataka 32,467 1 Kerala 10,323 Nil Madhya Pradesh 75,137 1 Maharashtra 46,672 Nil Manipur 17,384 Nil Meghalaya 15,633 Nil Mizoram 18,338 Nil Nagaland 14,164 Nil Orissa 47,033 Nil Punjab 1,412 Nil Rajasthan 13,871 Nil Sikkim 3,118 Nil Tamil Nadu 17,078 Nil Tripura 5,745 Nil Uttranchal 23,260 Nil Uttar Pradesh 10,756 2 West Bengal 8,362 3 A&N Islands 7,606 Nil Chandigarh 7 Nil D & N Haveli 202 Nil Daman & Diu 3 Nil Lakshdweep 0 1 Pondicherry 0 4
Total 637,293 27 No discernible forest cover.