India State of Forest Report (ISFR)
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Important Reports, Indices and Surveys · Topic 18.6
The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is the biennial assessment of forest and tree cover in India, prepared by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, using satellite data and field inventory. Assessments began in 1987. The latest edition verified, ISFR 2023, released in December 2024, put forest cover at 21.76 per cent of the geographical area and tree cover at 3.41 per cent, giving a total forest and tree cover of 25.17 per cent, or 8,27,357 square kilometres. The National Forest Policy of 1988 targets 33 per cent of land under forest and tree cover.
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At a Glance
- Prepared by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun
- Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Frequency Biennial, from 1987
- Latest verified ISFR 2023, December 2024
- Total cover 25.17 per cent (forest 21.76, tree 3.41)
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Important Reports, Indices and Surveys
Where Does It Fit?
This topic extends the report series into the environment. It links to climate commitments of India and to forest law, and its figures are also cited in the Economic Survey chapters on climate and the environment. Previous topic: State of Working India Report. Next topic: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report.
How Does ISFR Classify Forest Cover?
| Class | Definition and note |
|---|---|
| Very dense forest | Canopy density of 70 per cent and above |
| Moderately dense forest | Canopy density of 40 per cent and above but below 70 per cent |
| Open forest | Canopy density of 10 per cent and above but below 40 per cent |
| Scrub | Canopy density below 10 per cent, which is not counted as forest cover |
| Forest cover | All land with tree canopy density above 10 per cent and an area of more than one hectare, regardless of ownership or legal status |
| Tree cover | Tree patches outside recorded forest areas of less than one hectare, such as farm trees and roadside plantations |
What Does ISFR 2023 Report?
- Release: ISFR 2023 was released in December 2024 by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav at Dehradun. It is the 18th report in the series, as reported
- Forest cover: Forest cover is about 7,15,343 square kilometres, which is 21.76 per cent of the geographical area
- Tree cover: Tree cover is about 1,12,014 square kilometres, or 3.41 per cent of the geographical area
- Total: Forest and tree cover together are about 8,27,357 square kilometres, or 25.17 per cent, as reported
- Change since 2021: Total forest and tree cover rose by about 1,445 square kilometres since the previous assessment, as reported
- Leading states: Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, as reported. Lakshadweep and Mizoram have the highest share of cover by percentage, as reported
- Mangroves: Mangrove cover is about 4,992 square kilometres, with West Bengal having the largest share, as reported
- Verification: No later edition was verified as of November 2026, and readers should check the Forest Survey of India website for any ISFR 2025
What Else Should You Remember?
- Name and carbon stock: The India State of Forest Report also estimates the carbon stock of forests, which ISFR 2023 reported as a rise over the previous assessment, as reported. The abbreviation ISFR is followed by the year of the assessment
- Frequency and history: FSI was set up in 1981 and has published the report every two years since 1987
- Method: Remote sensing images from satellites, such as Resourcesat, are interpreted and checked on the ground, and the ground inventory gives growing stock and carbon estimates
- National target: The National Forest Policy, 1988 sets a goal of one third of the land area under forest and tree cover, and two thirds in hills and mountains
- Climate commitment: India has pledged under its Nationally Determined Contribution to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 through forest and tree cover
- Criticism: Experts note that the definition counts plantations, orchards and bamboo as forest, and that natural dense forests have declined in some regions, so a rise in total cover does not always mean better ecosystems
- Forest law: The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 changed the scope of the 1980 law, as in The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023
- Wildlife link: Forest cover supports tiger and elephant landscapes, and protected areas are governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
- Other assessments: The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment ranks countries by forest area, and India ranks among the top ten, as reported
- Link to biodiversity: Forest quality matters for biodiversity as much as area, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 deals with access to biological resources
- Common mistakes: Treating tree cover as part of forest cover, or saying that ISFR is published by the Wildlife Institute of India
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Publisher: Forest Survey of India, under MoEFCC
- Classes: 70, 40 and 10 per cent canopy thresholds
- Latest: ISFR 2023 with 25.17 per cent total cover
- Policy target: 33 per cent under the 1988 policy
- Common errors: Mixing forest cover with tree cover or giving 24.62 per cent, which was the 2021 figure
As an analytical point, counting trees is not the same as saving forests. Real progress needs protection of natural forests, honest accounting of plantations and attention to the rights and livelihoods of forest-dwelling communities.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Numbers Cover percentages
- Definitions Canopy classes
- Climate Carbon sink commitments
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the National Crime Records Bureau report. Next topic: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report.
Key People and Terms
- Canopy density Share of ground covered by tree crowns
- Forest cover Land with over 10 per cent canopy and over one hectare
- Tree cover Trees outside forests, under one hectare
- Carbon sink Store that absorbs carbon
- Mangrove Salt-tolerant coastal forest
- FSI Forest Survey of India
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Publisher: Forest Survey of India, Dehradun.
- Total cover in ISFR 2023: 25.17 per cent.
- Forest 21.76 plus tree 3.41.
- Policy target: 33 per cent.
- Report every two years.
Do Not Confuse With
- Forest cover and tree cover Over one hectare patches versus small patches outside forests
- ISFR and FAO assessment National report versus global assessment
- Recorded forest area and forest cover Legal status versus actual canopy
Memory Hook
Seventy, forty, ten: dense, moderate, open; add tree cover to get twenty-five.
Mains Angle
Mains questions ask whether rising cover means healthier forests. These points give a balanced frame.
- Gains Higher total cover
- Concerns Plantations, loss of dense forest
- Way Quality, rights, restoration
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“India reports rising forest and tree cover. Critically examine whether this shows improved forest health, and suggest measures.”
How to Answer
- Data 25.17 per cent in ISFR 2023.
- Issue Definition and plantations.
- Climate Carbon sink goal.
- Way Quality and rights.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India State of Forest Report?
The India State of Forest Report is the biennial assessment of forest and tree cover in India by the Forest Survey of India under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It uses satellite data and field inventory, and the series began in 1987.
Who publishes the India State of Forest Report?
The Forest Survey of India, headquartered in Dehradun and functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, publishes the report every two years. It is not published by the Wildlife Institute of India or the Botanical Survey of India, which have separate mandates.
What is India's forest cover in the latest ISFR?
ISFR 2023, released in December 2024, reported forest cover of 21.76 per cent and tree cover of 3.41 per cent, giving a total of 25.17 per cent or about 8,27,357 square kilometres. A later edition was not verified as of November 2026, so the Forest Survey of India site should be checked.
What are the classes of forest cover in ISFR?
ISFR classes forest by canopy density. Very dense forest has 70 per cent canopy or more, moderately dense forest has 40 to below 70 per cent, and open forest has 10 to below 40 per cent. Scrub has less than 10 per cent canopy and is not counted as forest cover.
What is the national target for forest cover in India?
The National Forest Policy of 1988 sets a goal of bringing one third of the country under forest and tree cover, and two thirds of hilly and mountainous areas. India also aims to add a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 through forest and tree cover.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The ISFR is prepared by the Forest Survey of India.
It is based in Dehradun.
2 Scrub is counted as forest cover in ISFR.
It has canopy below 10 per cent.
3 Very dense forest has canopy density of 70 per cent and above.
Moderately dense is 40 to 70.
4 The National Forest Policy 1988 sets a 40 per cent forest cover target.
The target is 33 per cent.
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