Report: Except Assam and Tripura, North Eastern regions show decrease in forest cover

According to India State of Forest Report 2019, except Assam and Tripura, all the States in the region show a decrease in forest cover.

"Total forest cover in the North-Eastern region is 1,70,541 sq km, which is 65.05% of its geographical area. The current assessment shows a decrease of forest cover to the extent of 765 sq km (0.45%) in the region," states the report which was released by Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Dec 30.

Top three states showing an increase in forest cover happen to be Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

As compared to the Forest Survey of 2017, there has been an increase of 5,188 sq km in the total forest and tree cover of the country. Out of this, the increase in the Forest Cover has been observed as 3,976 sq km and that in tree cover as 1,212 sq km, according to the report.

In the present assessment, the total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.73 million hectares which are 24.56 percent of the geographical area of the country, informed Javadekar during the launch event.

INDIA STATE OF FOREST REPORT 2019

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