Manipur's forest cover depleting rapidly
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 08, 2012: Over the last 2 years, Manipur achieved the dubious distinction of losing the largest area under forest cover among Indian states with Nagaland being the second.

According to the Forest Report, 2011 published by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry, over the last two years, Manipur lost 190 sq km of forest areas while Nagaland lost 146 sq km.

However, the natural forest covers in Sikkim has remained intact.

As for Assam, the forest cover lost has been recorded as 19 sq km over the same period.

As per the report, the total forest area lost over the last two years for the entire North eastern region was 549 sq km.

In accordance to the Indian Forest Survey Report, the total forest area in the North east region is 173,219 sq km.

Out of the total land area of India; only 21.05 percent is forest whereas in the North east region, 66.07 percent of the total land area is covered by forest.

In case of Manipur, the total land area is 22,327 sq km.

Out of this; 17,418 sq km are forest area, thus constituting 78.01 percent of the total land area.

Again within the forest area, 8.42 percent has been categorized as reserved forest, 23.95 as protected forest and 63.63 as unclaimed forest.

Loss of 190 sq km of forest area in Manipur over the last two years has been detected while comparing the satellite data of the forest cover taken during December 2006 to January 2007 and the available current satellite data.

Among the districts in Manipur which have lost forest cover the most, Senapati is in the lead.

with Ukhrul following closely behind.

Senapati has lost 120 percent of its total forest area while UKhrul has lost 98 percent of its total forest area.

The report has cited extensive jhumming cultivation in the hill areas of Manipur for the loss of forest cover in the State.

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