Assam green story goes greener

According to the latest FSI report, the total forest cover in Assam is 28,105 sq km as compared to 27,538 sq km in 2015, which is an increase by 567 sq km. About 35 per cent of the State’s total geographical area is now forest cover.

By our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 11: Amid mostly negative stories emating from Assam, there is a bit of heartening news of late as far as the greenery story goes. Is Assam going greener then?

The Northeast is hailed across the country for its lush greenery, apart from the picturesque hills and valleys. But the bitter pill one would not like to swallow is that the forest cover of the region has been steadily decreasing over the years. In the last two years, the total depletion of its total forest cover has been 630 sq km. However, the Assam story, amid the greenery gloom, is cheerful.

A survey carried out by the Dehradun-based Forest Survey of India (FSI) shows that Assam’s forest cover has increased by 567 sq km during the past two years. The FSI is a subordite organization under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It publishes a forest survey report every two years.

Its latest study titled “India State of Forest Report 2017” shows that while the total forest cover in the Northeast, including Sikkim, was 1,71,936 sq km in 2015, it now stands at 1,71,306 sq km, which is a decrease by 630 sq km across the region.

The decreases in Aruchal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, galand, Sikkim and Tripura are 190 sq km, 116 sq km, 531 sq km, 450 sq km, 9 sq km and 164 sq km respectively.

Only two States, Assam and Manipur, are good performers. According to the latest FSI report, the total forest cover in Assam is 28,105 sq km as compared to 27,538 sq km in 2015, which is an increase by 567 sq km. About 35 per cent of the State’s total geographical area is now forest cover. In Manipur, there has been an increase by 263 sq km as compared to the 2015 FSI report.