Indian State of Forest Report 2023
Key Findings of ISFR 2023
(A) Total Forest and Tree Cover
The total forest and tree cover of India = 8,27,356.95 sq km
That’s 25.17% of India’s total geographical area (GA).
Let’s separate this further:
| Category | Area (sq km) | % of Geographical Area |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Cover | 7,15,342.61 | 21.76% |
| Tree Cover | 1,12,014.34 | 3.41% |
| Total Forest & Tree Cover | 8,27,356.95 | 25.17% |
| Scrub (degraded lands with scattered vegetation) | 43,622.64 | 1.33% |
| Non-Forest Area | 24,16,489.29 | 73.50% |
| Total Geographical Area (India) | 32,87,468.88 | 100% |
So, roughly one-fourth of India’s land has tree or forest cover.
(B) Change since 2021
India’s forest and tree cover increased by 1,445.81 sq km since 2021.
Out of this, the forest cover alone increased by 156.41 sq km.
Now, where did the changes happen most?
📈 States with Maximum Increase (Forest + Tree Cover)
- Chhattisgarh: +684 sq km
- Uttar Pradesh: +559 sq km
- Odisha: +559 sq km
- Rajasthan: +394 sq km
🌲 Maximum Increase in Forest Cover only:
- Mizoram: +242 sq km
- Gujarat: +180 sq km
- Odisha: +152 sq km
📉 States with Largest Decrease:
- Madhya Pradesh: –612 sq km
- Karnataka: –459 sq km
- Ladakh: –159 sq km
- Nagaland: –125 sq km
(C) Top States in Forest Cover
By Area:
- Madhya Pradesh – 77,073 sq km
- Arunachal Pradesh – 65,882 sq km
- Chhattisgarh – 55,812 sq km
By Percentage of Total Geographical Area:
- Lakshadweep – 91.33%
- Mizoram – 85.34%
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 81.62%
So, smaller regions like Lakshadweep and Mizoram have a very high proportion of forest area, though the absolute area is small.
(D) High Forest Cover States
- 19 States/UTs have more than 33% of their geographical area under forest cover (which meets the National Forest Policy goal).
- Out of these, 8 States/UTs have over 75% forest cover:
👉 Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur.
(E) Carbon Stock
Let’s understand this carefully.
Carbon stock means the total amount of carbon stored in forests (in living biomass, deadwood, litter, and soil organic matter).
Forests act like a carbon sponge — absorbing CO₂ and storing it.
- India’s total forest carbon stock = 7,285.5 million tonnes
- Increase since 2021 = +81.5 million tonnes
🔝 Top States in Carbon Stock:
- Arunachal Pradesh – 1,021 Mt
- Madhya Pradesh – 608 Mt
- Chhattisgarh – 505 Mt
- Maharashtra – 465 Mt
Now, if we convert this into CO₂ equivalent, India’s carbon stock = 30.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
➡️ This means India has already added 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent compared to the 2005 base year —
nearing its 2030 Paris target of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes.
So, India is on track toward its climate goal!
(F) Regional Performance
🏞️ Western Ghats
- Total Eco-Sensitive Area (WGESA): 60,285.61 sq km
- Forest Cover within it: 44,043.99 sq km (73%)
So, three-fourths of this eco-sensitive region remains forested — a positive sign.
🌿 North-Eastern Region
- Total Forest & Tree Cover: 1,74,394.70 sq km (67% of area)
Despite deforestation pressures, NE India still remains the greenest part of the country.
(G) Mangrove Cover
Mangroves — the coastal forests growing in saline waters — are crucial for protecting shorelines and marine biodiversity.
- Total Mangrove Cover = 4,991.68 sq km (0.15% of GA)
- Net decrease of 7.43 sq km since 2021.
State-wise Change:
- Decrease: Gujarat (–36.39 sq km)
- Increase: Andhra Pradesh (+13.01 sq km), Maharashtra (+12.39 sq km)
So, the mangrove situation is mixed — some restoration in the east, loss in the west.
(H) Forest Fire Incidents
Top 3 states with the most fire incidents (2023–24):
- Uttarakhand
- Odisha
- Chhattisgarh
These areas face more forest fires due to:
- Dry deciduous vegetation,
- Rising temperatures,
- And human activity (burning for fodder or agriculture).
🌏 India’s Global and National Commitments
Now, let’s link this to India’s international environmental pledges.
(a) Paris Agreement (NDC Target)
- India has pledged to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
- This will be achieved through increasing forest and tree cover.
✅ ISFR 2023 shows India is on track toward this goal.
(b) Bonn Challenge
- India has committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
- This initiative focuses on restoring productivity and biodiversity in degraded ecosystems.
(c) Forests and Livelihoods
- Indian forests support 17% of the global human population and 18% of the world’s livestock.
So, our forests are not just ecological assets but also social and economic lifelines for millions.
(d) India’s Global Ranking
As per FAO’s Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA, 2020):
- India is among the Top 10 countries in total forest area.
- India ranks 3rd globally in annual net gain in forest cover (2010–2020).
That means, India is one of the world’s few countries where forest area is increasing, not decreasing — a rare achievement.
🌾 Trends in Forestry (2013–2023)
Now, let’s look at the decade-long trend — how India’s forest health changed between 2013 and 2023.
(A) Increase in Greenery
- Forest Cover ↑ by 16,630 sq km
- Tree Cover ↑ by 20,747 sq km
- Mangrove Cover ↑ by 296 sq km
➡️ So, in the last decade, India has consistently become greener.
(B) Soil Health
- Share of “shallow to deep soils” increased from 83.53% (2013) → 87.16% (2023).
- Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) increased from 55.85 t/ha → 56.08 t/ha.
Now, what is Soil Organic Carbon?
👉 It is the carbon stored in decomposed plant and animal matter in the soil.
It improves:
- Soil structure and stability,
- Moisture retention,
- Fertility, and hence,
- Overall forest health.
(C) Biotic Influences
Biotic influences = disturbances caused by living organisms —
like grazing, illegal felling, fires, lopping, etc.
These have reduced from 31.28% (2013) → 26.66% (2023).
That means lesser human and livestock pressure → better conditions for both flora and fauna.
Conclusion
The 18th ISFR 2023 shows that:
- India’s forest and tree cover is increasing,
- Carbon stock is improving,
- Soil health is getting better, and
- Human pressure on forests is slightly reducing.
But there are challenges too — like forest fires, loss of mangroves, and regional deforestation in states like MP and Karnataka.
Overall, India is progressing positively toward its Paris and Bonn Challenge goals, balancing ecological conservation with livelihood needs.
