The Forest and tree cover in India has seen an increase of 156.41 sq km and 1289.40 sq km, respectively in India.
On Monday, the Union Minister of State Kriti Vardhan Singh, in the Lok Sabha, in a written reply, stated the information.
During the written reply, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said that, compared to the assessment published in ISFR-2021, India has increased its forest cover by 156.41 sq kilometres and its tree cover by 1,289.40 sq kilometres, respectively.
The data given is from the India State of Forest Report-2023, published by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun.
He stated that the protection of forests and tree cover is the major responsibility of the government.
The written reply of the minister quoted, “Protection and management of forests and tree cover are primarily the responsibilities of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forests and tree cover of the country, which include the Indian Forest Act, 1927; the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980; the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; the State Forest Acts; the Tree Preservation Acts and Rules made thereunder.”
The written reply further added that if the illegal felling of a tree is detected at any time after, the reasonable and relevant acts against the culprit will be proceeded with before competent courts and authorities.
Also, the State and Union Territory administrations should maintain such action and keep an eye on it.
The reply noted that the local authorities will carry out and maintain the data of illegally felled trees in the relevant forest offence registers with the guidance prescribed by the concerned Union territory administration and state government.
In the written reply, the Union Minister further added that the government has taken important steps to stop the felling of trees.
The pointer includes regular patrolling by front-line forest staff in the forest in order to stop the illegal or prohibited activities.
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