At a time when the country has recorded an increase of 5,871 sq km in its forest cover in the past two years with West Bengal alone contributing 60% of the total rise, Maharashtra lost 14 sq km forest area (1,400 hectares) in the past two years. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2013 released by minister of state for environment Prakash Javadekar attributed loss of cover to large-scale encroachments, perhaps forceful acquisition of land under Forest Rights Act (FRA).Despite claims by the forest department on successful plantations and better management, Maharashtra is continuously losing the cover. It lost 4 sq km (400 hectares) in 2011, which was in addition to the 11 sq km in 2009. However, area wise, the state stands fourth in forest cover, behind Madhya Pradesh (77,522 sqkm), Arunachal Pradesh (67,321 sqkm) and Chhattisgarh (55,621 sqkm).
As per the National Forest Policy 1988, state needs to have 33% forest cover but it has only 19.43% of the total geographical area of 3.07 lakh sq km. It includes 8720 sq km very dense forest (VDF), 20770 sq km moderately dense forest (MDF) and 21142 sq km open forest (OF). The 19.43% forest cover also includes 9142 sq km tree cover. If this is excluded actual state forest cover may be little over 16%. If a district-wise forest cover of Maharashtra is considered, only Sindhudurg in Western Maharashtra shows 12 sq km increase.
As per the National Forest Policy 1988, state needs to have 33% forest cover but it has only 19.43% of the total geographical area of 3.07 lakh sq km. It includes 8720 sq km very dense forest (VDF), 20770 sq km moderately dense forest (MDF) and 21142 sq km open forest (OF). The 19.43% forest cover also includes 9142 sq km tree cover. If this is excluded actual state forest cover may be little over 16%. If a district-wise forest cover of Maharashtra is considered, only Sindhudurg in Western Maharashtra shows 12 sq km increase.
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