Jaipur: Rajasthan recorded an increase of 394.5 sq km in its forest and tree cover between 2021 and 2023, registering the sixth-highest gain among states, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 tabled in the Lok Sabha Monday.Replying to a question by BJP MP Amara Ram, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh said Rajasthan’s combined forest and tree cover increased from around 26,995 sq km in 2021 to over 27,389 sq km in 2023.Across the country, forest and tree cover expanded by 1,446 sq km, taking the total to nearly 8,27,357 sq km, or over 25% of India’s geographical area. Rajasthan ranked behind Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in terms of increase, while Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam and Telangana recorded the biggest declines.The Centre attributed the rise to afforestation and ecological restoration initiatives, including the Green India Mission, CAMPA, Nagar Van Yojana and the Plant4Mother campaign, implemented with the participation of local communities and panchayats.Environmental experts said the increase reflects a mix of favourable rainfall and sustained plantation efforts rather than expansion of natural forests alone.“Large-scale plantation drives, better survival of saplings due to above-normal rainfall, expansion of trees outside forests, and afforestation under CAMPA and MGNREGA have collectively contributed to the increase,” said LK Sharma, professor of environmental science at the Central University of Rajasthan.He cautioned against interpreting the figures as growth in natural forests. “The India State of Forest Report combines forest cover with tree cover outside forests. A substantial share of the increase could come from plantations, roadside trees, farm forestry and urban green spaces,” Sharma said.The Forest Survey of India prepares the biennial report using satellite imagery backed by field verification.
