Kerala has achieved the highest increase in forest cover outside the recorded forest area in India over the past decade, as reported in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.
Between 2013 and 2023, the State’s total forest cover also increased by 133.42 sq.km, a growth of 19.99%, marking one of the highest growth rates in the country.
The ISFR 2023, compiled by the Forest Survey of India and released by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav a day ago, also highlights that Kerala ranks third in terms of maximum tree cover relative to the total geographical area, at 7.48%.
Compared to the 2021 assessment, Kerala records the third-highest increase in forest cover outside the recorded forest area (95.19 sq.km.), following Gujarat and Bihar. The forest cover within recorded forest area grew by 38.23 sq.km., and the State’s overall forest and tree cover increased by 13.76 sq. km.
Growing stock
The report further states that Kerala has the second-highest per hectare growing stock in forest, with 179.78 cubic metres. (Growing stock refers to the total volume of living trees in a given area of forest, serving as a key metric for forest management, sustainability and timber production.)
Kerala’s recorded forest area spans 11,522 sq.km., making up 29.66% of its notified geographical area of 38,852 sq.km. The State’s mangrove cover has expanded marginally by 0.02 sq.km (since 2021), now covering 9.45 sq.km., while the bamboo-bearing area has grown by 1.62%, extending across 2,443 sq.km.
Among the districts located along the Western Ghats, the forest cover in the eco-sensitive areas of Idukki has decreased by 97.94 sq.km, while Kozhikode has seen the highest increase of 124.21 sq.km, followed by Malappuram with an increase of 99.98 sq.km.
Published – December 22, 2024 08:45 pm IST