India Loses Forest Land Size of Virgin Islands in 2 Years

Bangalore: India recorded a net loss of 367 sq km of forests, which is as much the size of Virgin Islands. The latest 'state of forest’ report suggests that a massive 367 sq km was lost between 2009 and 2011. The report is prepared every two years by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the Dehradun-based wing of the environment and forests ministry.

The report noted that excluding the north eastern states the largest loss of forests occurred in Andhra Pradesh which lost 281 sq km of forests in two years. Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh alone shows a loss of 182 sq km of green cover. It was also noted that the northeastern states show huge changes annually in their forest stocks, which are reflective of the large-scale shifting cultivation practiced in the region and the figures do not reflect a permanent loss of green cover.

It was noted that the forest and tree cover of the country is 23.81 percent of the geographical area. The north eastern states account for one-fourth of the country’s forest cover with a net decline of 540 sq km. The report also suggested that in hill and tribal districts a decrease of 548 and 679 sq km of forest cover was noted. An increase in mangrove cover by 23.34 sq km was also recorded.