Maarg Manthan · Topic 10.4

FSI State of Forest Report Findings

Environment & Ecology › Land, Forest and Soil Resources · Topic 10.4

The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) is the Forest Survey of India's biennial assessment of forest and tree resources. The 2021 report (17th) put forest cover at about 7.13 lakh sq km, 21.71 percent of India's geographical area, and tree cover at about 2.91 percent, giving total forest and tree cover of about 24.62 percent. The 2023 report (18th) put forest cover at about 7.15 lakh sq km, 21.76 percent, tree cover at about 3.41 percent and total forest and tree cover at about 25.17 percent, which is about 8.27 lakh sq km; check the latest report. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, while Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have the highest share of their own area under forest. The National Forest Policy 1988 target is one-third of the land under forest and tree cover. Findings usually cover mangroves, bamboo, growing stock, carbon stock, forest fires and the north-east.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Land, Forest and Soil Resources

At a Glance

Report ISFR 2021 and 2023
Forest cover About 21.7 percent
Total with trees About 25 percent
Largest area Madhya Pradesh
Highest share Mizoram
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Land, Forest and Soil Resources

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the definitions used by FSI. It gives the national picture before the next topics on the types of forests and the causes of deforestation. Previous topic: Survey of India, Dehradun Set up 1981 Report ISFR, every two years Forest cover Over 1 ha,…">Forest Survey of India (FSI) Definition of Forests and Types of Forest Cover. Next topic: Types of Forests in India.

What Are the Headline Findings of the Recent State of Forest Reports?

Item	Findings (approximate; check the latest)
ISFR 2021 forest cover	About 7.13 lakh sq km, 21.71 percent of geographical area
ISFR 2021 tree cover	About 2.91 percent, giving total about 24.62 percent
ISFR 2023 forest cover	About 7.15 lakh sq km, 21.76 percent
ISFR 2023 tree cover	About 3.41 percent; total forest and tree cover about 25.17 percent
Largest forest cover by area	Madhya Pradesh, then Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Highest share of area	Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar among units; Mizoram, Arunachal and Meghalaya among states
Mangroves	About 4,900 to 5,000 sq km

What Else Do the Reports Show?

Policy target: 33 percent forest and tree cover under the National Forest Policy 1988, not yet reached
Hill target: two-thirds of area in hills and mountains
Gain and loss: reports list states gaining and losing forest cover; north-eastern states often show losses
Carbon stock: forest carbon stock is estimated at several billion tonnes, with increases reported
Bamboo: bamboo area and growing stock are reported
Forest fires: fire alerts and fire-prone areas are mapped
Tiger reserve and corridor forest: cover inside tiger reserves is assessed
Climate hotspots: projected climate effects on forests are discussed

What Else Should You Remember?

Biennial report: the first ISFR was issued in 1987, and 2023 was the 18th
Cover class shares: Open Forest and Moderately Dense Forest are the two largest classes by area, with Very Dense Forest the smallest
Open forest: a substantial share, often degraded
Scrub: is reported separately and is not counted in forest cover
Largest gain state: reports usually name states such as Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan for gains; check the report
Largest loss state: reports note losses in some north-eastern states, linked to shifting cultivation and development
Gain explanation: plantations, tree cover and better assessment
Forest cover in hill districts: FSI reports separate figures for hill, tribal and north-eastern districts
Tribal districts: forests are important to livelihoods, and cover trends there are tracked
Mangroves: West Bengal has the largest mangrove cover, followed by Gujarat and Andaman and Nicobar
Growing stock: the total volume of wood in forests and trees outside forests
Carbon sink: India’s climate pledge aims for an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2030
Forests and NDC: the carbon sink target is part of India’s Nationally Determined Contribution
Methods: an area-based forest map and a field inventory on sample plots across the country
Forest Survey of India: in Dehradun, with regional offices in Shimla, Kolkata, Nagpur and Bengaluru
State forest departments: provide ground data
Data caution: forest cover change between reports includes changes in method and satellite data
Quality: a rise in open forest or plantations is not the same as natural forest recovery
FSI portal: shows forest fire alerts and state level data
Link to previous: see Forest Survey of India (FSI) Definition of Forests and Types of Forest Cover
Link to next: see Types of Forests in India
Link to programmes: see Government Programmes for Forest Conservation
Caution: all state rankings and area figures should be checked in the latest ISFR
Exam hint: learn headline percentages and the top states by area and by share

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Headline: About 25 percent forest and tree
Top area: Madhya Pradesh
Top share: Mizoram
Current affairs link: Latest ISFR
Common errors: mixing forest cover with forest and tree cover

As an analytical point, India’s reported forest and tree cover is slowly rising, but the rise is partly from plantations, farm trees and better mapping, while natural forests in sensitive regions face pressure. Quality, not only the percentage, should guide policy.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Share Around 25 percent
Gap Below 33 target
Concern Quality

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the types of forests in India. Next topic: Types of Forests in India.

Key People and Terms

ISFR India State of Forest Report
Growing stock Wood volume
Carbon stock Carbon held in forests
TOF Trees outside forests
Forest cover Canopy land
NDC National climate pledge

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Forest and tree cover about 25 percent.
Policy target: 33 percent.
Largest area: Madhya Pradesh.
Highest share: Mizoram.
Reports every two years.

Do Not Confuse With

Forest cover and total cover Forest only versus forest plus tree
Largest area and highest share Madhya Pradesh versus Mizoram
Gain in cover and gain in quality Area versus health

Memory Hook

Twenty-two forest, three trees, below thirty-three, Mizoram tops by share.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for numbers and rankings. These points help.

Trend Slow rise
Gap 33 target
Concern Quality

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the main findings of the India State of Forest Report. Does rising forest cover indicate better forest health?”

How to Answer

Findings Cover, trees.
States Top, loss.
Gap 33 target.
Quality Concerns.

GS Relevance

Prelims: forest cover figures and rankings. GS Paper 3: forest resources and policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of India is covered by forests?

According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, forest cover is about 21.76 percent of India's geographical area, and with tree cover of about 3.41 percent, total forest and tree cover is about 25.17 percent. These figures change with every biennial report, so the most recent edition should be checked.

Which state has the largest forest cover in India?

Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In terms of share of its own geographical area, Mizoram has the highest forest cover among states, followed by Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Rankings can change with each report, so check the latest ISFR.

What is India's target for forest and tree cover?

The National Forest Policy of 1988 set a goal of bringing one-third of India's geographical area under forest or tree cover, and two-thirds in hilly and mountainous regions. India has not yet reached the one-third level, and the 2023 report shows total forest and tree cover at around 25 percent.

How often is the State of Forest Report published?

The Forest Survey of India publishes the India State of Forest Report every two years. The first report appeared in 1987, and the 2021 and 2023 editions were the 17th and 18th. Each report gives forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock, carbon stock and other findings.

Why does forest cover growth not always mean healthier forests?

Forest cover is measured by tree canopy on satellite images, so plantations, orchards and bamboo can add to cover, while loss of natural dense forests may be hidden. Healthy forests need rich species, dense canopy and regeneration, so analysts look at dense forest classes, biodiversity and carbon stock.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area.

True

As per recent ISFR.

2 India has already reached 33 percent forest and tree cover.

False

It is around 25 percent.

3 ISFR is a biennial report.