Forest Survey of India reports increase in forest area of India

“According to the Indian State of Forest Report, 2017 of the FSI, Dehradun, 567 sq km of Assam has increased in forest compared to the forest cover as assessed in 2015,” the Centre said.

In Assam, the recorded forest area is 26,832 sq km accounting for 34.21% of its geographical area. The legal status of these forests states that reserved forest constitute 66.58% and unclassed forests 33.42% of the total area of forests.

The information that was received by the Government of Assam says that the forest that covered Dima Hasso district has decreased by 1.06 percent over the 2015 assessment of Forest Survey of India, Dehradun.

However, no large-scale tree felling has been reported recently said by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Mahesh Sharma in reply to Rajya Sabha question by Congress MP Bhubaneswar Kalita.

The protection and management of forests lies primarily under the responsibility of the state governments

Cases of illegal felling in accordance with the provisions of the extant Acts, and regulations are dealt by the Forest Department of Assam.

The minister said that whenever a specific case is referred to it by the state government, the Union Minister will intervene for assistance.