State lost 249 sq km of forest cover in two years : 14th mar23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

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State lost 249 sq km of forest cover in two years
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 13 2023: Even though India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 shows increased in the total forest and tree cover of the country by 2261 square kilometres, the same report mentions sharp decline in forest cover in Manipur from the ISFR 2019 .

According to a report published in PIB, Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organisation under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, carries out the assessment of forest cover of the country biennially since 1987 and the findings are published in India State of Forest Report (ISFR).

As per latest ISFR 2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,789 square kilometres which is 21.72 per cent of the geographical area of the country.

The current assessment shows that the total forest cover of the country increased by 1540 square kilometres, tree cover by 721 square kilometres, and total forest and tree cover has expanded by 2261 square kilometres at the national level as compared to the previous assessment in ISFR 2019 .

According to the report, out of the total geographical area of 22,327 square kilometres of Manipur, 16,598 square kilometres lie under forest cover, which is 74.34 per cent of the total area of the state.

As compared with ISFR 2019, the state has lost 249 square kilometres of forest cover (1.48 per cent) in ISFR 2021 .

The report also shows that total area covered by scrubs is 1215 square kilometres.

The ministry provides financial assistance to states/UTs under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes namely Green India Mission to support and supplement the efforts of states and UTs.

National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.

It aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing India s forest cover and responding to climate change by undertaking plantation activities in the forest and non-forest areas.

Under the mission, the ministry had released Rs 6.42 crore in 2017-18, Rs 4.89 crore in 2018-19, Rs 4.16 crore in 2019-20, Rs 6.74 crore in 2020-21, Rs 9.93 crore in 2021-22, and Rs 5.45 crore in 2022-23 to Manipur.

The ministry is also implementing Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) since 2020, which envisages creation of 400 Nagar Vans and 200 Nagar Vatika in the country during the period 2020-21 to 2024-25 under the funds available under National Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA).

The Nagar Van Yojana aims to enhance the green cover in the urban and peri-urban areas including biological diversity, provide ecological benefits and improve the quality of life of city dwellers.

CAMPA funds are being utilised by states/UTs for taking up compensatory afforestation as per approved Annual Plan of Operations for compensating the loss of forest & tree cover due to diversion of forest land for developmental projects as per provisions of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (CAF Act) and CAF Rules, 2018.In addition to this, area specific provisions such as preparation of Catchment Area Treatment Plan, Wildlife Conservation Plan, Soil and Moisture Conservation Plan among others are also stipulated to mitigate the impacts of diversion of forest lands.

The ministry had released Rs 24.84 crore in 2018-19, Rs 309.76 crore in 2019-20, and Rs 36.43 crore in 2021-22 under CAMPA Fund.

Among the north eastern states, 257 square kilometres (0.39 per cent) of forest cover was lost in Arunachal Pradesh, 15 square kilometres (0.05 per cent) in Assam, 73 square kilometres (0.43 per cent) in Meghalaya, 186 square kilometres (1.03 per cent) in Mizoram, 235 square kilometres (1.88 per cent) in Nagaland, 1 square kilometres (0.03 per cent) in Sikkim, and 4 square kilometres (0.05 per cent) in Tripura.

Out of 36 states and UTs, 24 reported increase in forest cover and 11 loss of forest cover.

The other states which have reported loss of forest covers are Delhi (0.44 square kilometres), Punjab (2 sq km) and West Bengal (70 sq km).

Forest cover for Lakshadweep remains unchanged from ISFR 2019 to ISFR 2021 .

* This news is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. E-Pao.net is not responsible for it's sanctity & originality.

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