Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry carries out the assessment of forest cover biennially since 1987 and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The reason for delay in publication of India State of Forest Report 2023 is due to inclusion of 751 districts in the report instead of 638 districts included in earlier reports.

Diversion of the forest lands for non-forestry purposes requires prior approval of the Central Government under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980. During the period from 01.04.2019 to 31.03.2024 the Ministry has accorded approval for the diversion of 95724.99 ha of forest land for different non-forestry purposes.

Under provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, the National Authority has approved an area of 252,000.44 hectares for taking up compensatory afforestation (CA) under the various Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) submitted by the States/UTs from year 2019 to 2024.

As per ISFR, the forest cover includes all lands, more than one hectare in area with a tree canopy density of more than 10 percent irrespective of ownership and legal status. Such lands may not necessarily be a recorded forest area. It also includes orchards, bamboo and palm.
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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