[CA] ISFR 2019

¶       Union Ministry for Environment released the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 in New Delhi

¶       The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI)

¶       ISFR 2019 is the 16th report in the series.

¶       India is among few countries in the world where forest cover is consistently increasing.

¶       The total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.73 million hectare which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country.

¶       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.

¶       Top three states showing increase in forest cover are Karnataka (1,025 sq. km) followed by Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km) and Kerala (823 sq km)

¶       Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%).

ISFR 2019
Maximum Forest Area (by area)	Maximum Forest Area (by %)
Madhya Pradesh	Mizoram (85.41%)
Arunachal Pradesh	Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%)
Chhattisgarh	Meghalaya (76.33%)
Odisha	Manipur (75.46%)
Maharashtra	Nagaland (75.31%)

¶       Mangrove cover has been separately reported in the ISFR 2019 and the total mangrove cover in the country is 4,975 sq km.

¶       An increase of 54 sq Km in mangrove cover has been observed as compared to the previous assessment of 2017.

¶       Top three states showing mangrove cover increase are

Ø Gujarat (37 sq km)

Ø Maharashtra (16 sq km) and

Ø Odisha (8 sq km).

Classification of Forests

Class	Details
Very Dense Forest	All lands with tree canopy density of 70% and above
Moderately Dense Forest	All lands with tree canopy density of 40% and more but less than 70%
Open Forest	All lands with tree canopy density of 10% and more but less than 40%
Scrub	All lands with tree canopy density of less than 10%
Non - forest	Lands not included in any of the above classes (includes water)

Click for *** States & UTs details on % of Forests *** 

[CA] Forest in Tamil Nadu

In the 1990s, Santhavasal, a dry deciduous mixed forest in Tiruvannamalai, was an example of how human interference can lead to environmental degradation of an ecologically diverse region. But, a 20-year-long intervention programme has shown the way to undo the destruction.

Deforestation for timber, overgrazing and agricultural activities had eaten into the forest area in the Eastern Ghats, affecting the soil, water and biodiversity. The water table in the agricultural fields of nearby villages had plunged to alarming depths, making it unsuitable for drinking and agricultural use. This came as a wake-up call for the people and foresters. As the first step, the Tamil Nadu forest department joined hands with Srinivasan Services Trust, an NGO and CSR arm of TVS Motor company, under TN Afforestation Project, and took up ecological restoration on 240 hectares of the Santhavasal reserve forest near Padavedu.

In 1999, the initiative began with the participation of 640 people from five nearby settlements. A new method, ‘Close to Nature Regeneration System’, was executed on more than 4,000 hectares. Earlier, forest areas used to be replanted with single variety of plants, often exotic, such as eucalyptus, but in the new system, a variety of indigenous species began to be used. After planting saplings, a reasonable amount of time was given for natural regeneration. Necessary soil and moisture conservation measures were also done through trenching and bunding. This prevented the soil from being washed away and allowed water to be impounded so that it would percolate easily and recharge groundwater.

On the socio-economic front, to protect and maintain the restored forests, village forest committees  were constituted in the five adjacent villages. To discourage tree cutting, forest produce such as fuel, fodder, green manure, and non-timber products that could be harvested from the restored forests on a sustainable yield basis went to VFCs.

Reforestation of species such as neem, Indian rosewood, peepal and amla were taken up on a large scale apart from sowing seeds of shrubs, legumes and grasses in particular areas. The result was a significant increase in the density of forest cover, diversity and variety of plants and improved groundwater levels. The villages of Santhavasal, Chinnasanthavasal, Kallankuthu, Kalvasal and Munivanthangal benefited with enhanced water supply and are fit to raise major crops like paddy and sugarcane again. An increase in population of fauna such as rabbits, porcupines, wild boars, reptiles and birds was also observed.

The programme also focused on restoration of 34 endemic species. These included satinwood, which is used for small luxury items and as a veneer in wooden furniture and rosewood, known for its premier timber and other flowering plants. The Santhavasal reserved forest is a model for private public partnership in conserving natural resources. Such measures help achieve economic, environmental and social outcomes for a climate sensitive state like Tamil Nadu.

[CA] 3rd Edition of Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation

3rd Edition of Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day 3rd Edition of Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation in New Delhi.

·       At the Global Tiger Summit at St. Petersburg held in 2010, range countries committed to double the tiger number by 2022 and adopted the Global/National Tiger Recovery Programme.

·       More than 700 tiger experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders gathered to discuss issues related to tiger conservation.

·       Ministers and government officials from all Tiger Range Countries participated in the conference

·       While several Tiger Range Countries like India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan have registered an increase in tiger population, the status of Tiger remains endangered. Tiger population has decimated to non-viable level in some range countries, which is a cause for concern.

·       The Government has allotted 380.00 crore to the Project Tiger in the current fiscal year, which is an all-time high and indicates that the Government of India is committed to the conservation of our national animal, Tiger.

·       13 participating countries included Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

·       The meeting aims at promoting awareness about tiger conservation across Asia and the world.

·       All the participating countries shared their knowledge of tiger conservation and help each other through exchange of ideas.

·       The conference also binds the participating countries in a long term collaboration, in order to save and conserve tigers better.

·       As India is home to around 70 percent of the global tiger population, it will play a pivotal role in the collaborative movement.

·       India's tiger count has risen up to 2,226 from 1,912 in the last few years. State-wise, Karnataka has the highest number of tigers with 406 big cats.

·       Prime Minister released a joint report on “Status of Tigers in the Sunderban Landscape – India and Bangladesh” on the occasion. 

Prime Minister also presented awards in various categories for Tiger conservation to representatives from Tiger Reserves. The award-winning Tiger Reserves include:

Tiger Reserves	Awarded for
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala	Best Anti-poaching practices
Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh	Village Relocation and Settlement
Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh	Active Management
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala	Community Participation in Eco-Tourism
Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam	Conservation of Species other than Tigers

Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation
#	Year	Venue
1	2010	Hua Hin, Thailand
2	2013	Thimphu, Bhutan
3	2016	New Delhi, India

Tiger reserves of India:

·       Totally 48 tiger reserves are there in India which are governed by Project Tiger which is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

·       India is home to 70 percent of tigers in the world. In 2006, there were 1,411 tigers which increased to 1,706 in 2011 and 2,226 in 2014.

·       The current tiger population is a fraction of the 45,000 that roamed India a century ago.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan were appointed as the Maharashtra government’s brand ambassador for its ambitious the Tiger Conservation Project last year.

·       48 tiger reserves in India, governed by Project Tiger which is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

·       India is home to 70 percent of Tigers in the world.

·       The largest Tiger Reserve is the 3,568 km2 (1,378 sq mi) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The Mudumalai – Bandipur – Nagarahole - Wayanad complex holds the world’s single largest tiger population currently estimated at over 570 tigers (in 11,000 sq.km of habitat)

#	State	Tiger Reserve	Area	Year
1	Andhra Pradesh, Telangana	Nagarjunsagar-Srisrailam	3568	1982-83
2	Arunachal Pradesh	Namdapha	1985	1982-83
3	Arunachal Pradesh	Pakhuli	862	1999-00
4	Assam	Manas	2840	1973-74
5	Assam	Nameri	344	1999-00
6	Assam	Kaziranga	859	2006-07
7	Bihar	Valmiki	840	1989-90
8	Chhattisgarh	Udanti and Sitanadi	1580	2008-09
9	Chhattisgarh	Achanakmar	963	2008-09
10	Chhattisgarh	Indravati	2799	1982-83
11	Jharkhand	Palamau	1026	1973-74
12	Karnataka	Bandipur	866	1973-74
13	Karnataka	Bhadra	492	1998-99
14	Karnataka	Dandeli-Anshi	875	2006-07
15	Karnataka	Nagarhole	643	1999-00
16	Karnataka	Bilgiri Rangaswamy	540	2010-11
17	Kerala	Periyar	925	1978-79
18	Kerala	Parambikulam	391	2010-11
19	Madhya Pradesh	Kanha	1945	1973-74
20	Madhya Pradesh	Pench	758	1992-93
21	Madhya Pradesh	Bandhavgarh	1162	1993-94
22	Madhya Pradesh	Panna	542	1994-95
23	Madhya Pradesh	Bori-Satpura	1486	1999-00
24	Madhya Pradesh	Sanjay Dubri	831	2008-09
25	Maharashtra	Melghat	1677	1973-74
26	Maharashtra	Tadoba-Andhari	620	1993-94
27	Maharashtra	Bor	138	2014
28	Maharashtra	Pench	257	1998-99
29	Maharashtra	Sahyadri	569	2008-09
30	Maharashtra	Nawegaon-Nagzira	653	2012-13
31	Mizoram	Dampa	500	1994-95
32	Odisha	Simlipal	2750	1973-74
33	Odisha	Satkosia	523	2006-07
34	Rajasthan	Ranthambhore	1334	1973-74
35	Rajasthan	Sariska	866	1978-79
36	Rajasthan	Mukundara Hills	417	2012-13
37	Tamil Nadu	Kalakad-Mundathurai	800	1988-89
38	Tamil Nadu	Mudumalai	321	2006-07
39	Tamil Nadu	Sathyamanagalam	1408.405	2012-13
40	Tamil Nadu	Anamalai	1019	2008-09
41	Telangana	Kawal	893	2010-11
42	Uttar Pradesh	Dudhwa	811	1987-88
43	Uttar Pradesh	Amangarh	80	2012
44	Uttar Pradesh	Pilibhit	1074	2014
45	Uttarakhand	Corbett	80	1973-74
46	West Bengal	Buxa	759	1982-83
47	West Bengal	Sunderbans	2585	1973-74
48	Uttarakhand	Rajaji	1150	2015

Maximum number of Tiger Reserves:

State	Number of Tiger Reserves
Madhya Pradesh	6
Maharashtra	6
Karnataka	5
Tamil Nadu	4
Rajasthan	3
Uttar Pradesh	3
Chhattisgarh	3
Assam	3

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