India State of Forest Report 2019

India State of Forest Report 2019

On December 31, 2019, the biennial "India State of Forest Report (ISFR)", published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), was released. Starting from 1987, 16 assessments have been completed so far. ISFR 2019 is the 16th report in the series.

Forest and Tree Cover Statistics (2019)

• The total forest cover of the country is 7,12,249 sq km, which is 21.67% of the geographical area of the country.

• The tree cover of the country is estimated as 95,027 sq km, which is 2.89% of the geographical area.

• The total forest and tree cover of the country is 8,07,276 sq km, which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country.

India’s Green Cover Up by 13,000 Sq. Km in Five Years

India's green cover (the tree cover both inside and outside the forest) has increased by 13,000 square km in the last five years. India is among the two to three countries in the world where the green cover has increased.

• As compared to the assessment of 2017, there is an increase of 5,188 sq. km in the total forest and tree cover of the country.

  • Out of this, the increase in the forest cover has been observed as 3,976 sq km, and that in tree cover is 1,212 sq. km.

Top States in Forest Cover Increase (2019)

The top five States in terms of increase in forest cover are:

• Karnataka (1,025 sq km)

• Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km)

• Kerala (823 sq km)

• Jammu & Kashmir (371 sq km)

• Himachal Pradesh (334 sq km)

States with the Largest Forest Cover (Area-wise)

• Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country

• Followed by: Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra

Top States by Forest Cover Percentage (Geographical Area)

• Mizoram (85.41%)

• Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%)

• Meghalaya (76.33%)

• Manipur (75.46%)

• Nagaland (75.31%)

Mangrove Cover in India (2019)

Mangrove ecosystems are unique & rich in biodiversity, and they provide numerous ecological services.

• The total mangrove cover in the country is 4,975 sq km.

• The top three states showing mangrove cover increase:

  • Gujarat (37 sq km)

  • Maharashtra (16 sq km)

  • Odisha (8 sq km)

Other Key Statistics (2019)

• The total growing stock of wood in India is estimated at 5,915.76 million cum, of which:

  • 4,273.47 million cum is inside the forests

  • 1,642.29 million cum is outside forests

• The extent of bamboo bamboo-bearing area of the country has been estimated at 16.00 million hectares.

• Under the current assessment, the total carbon stock in the country's forest is estimated at 7,124.6 million tonnes.

  • The annual increase in the carbon stock is 21.3 million tonnes, which is 78.2 million tonnes CO₂ eq.

Wetlands in Forest Areas

Wetlands within forest areas form important ecosystems and add richness to the biodiversity in forest areas, both of faunal and floral species.

• 62,466 wetlands cover 3.8% of the area within the RFA/GW of the country.

Forest Cover: 2021 Assessment

The Forest Cover of the country has been classified and mapped into three canopy density classes:

• Very Dense Forest (VDF)

• Moderately Dense Forest (MDF)

• Open Forest (OF)

In addition to the three density classes, scrub areas, which are not part of Forest Cover, have also been classified and mapped.

Forest Cover by Area & Percentage (2021)

• Total Forest Cover of the country, as per the current assessment, is 7,13,789 sq km, which is 21.71% of the total geographic area of the country.

• In the current assessment, Very Dense Forest and Moderately Dense Forest together constitute 57% of the total Forest Cover of the country.

Canopy Density Breakdown (2021)

Final Thoughts

India’s consistent efforts in forest conservation and afforestation are reflected in the steady increase in green cover, making it one of the few countries showing such progress. The ISFR 2019 and 2021 assessments highlight not only growth in forest and tree cover but also improvements in carbon stock, mangrove areas, and biodiversity-rich wetlands.

States like Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, and Karnataka have played a leading role in this achievement. The data underscores the importance of sustainable forest management and community participation to maintain ecological balance.

With continued investment in green initiatives and strong policy support, India is on the path to achieving its climate and environmental goals.