Odisha second for maximum increase in green cover inside recorded forest area

India State of Forest Report-2023 published on Saturday ranked Odisha second in the country for maximum increase in green cover inside recorded forest area. The report, published biennially, provides a detailed assessment of the nation’s forest and tree resources. The report says that Odisha reported an increase of 118.17 sq km of forest inside the recorded forest area, while Mizoram ranked first with an increase of 192.92 sq km. They were followed by Karnataka (an increase of 93.14 sq km of forest), West Bengal (64.79 sq km), and Jharkhand’s growth (52.72 sq km).

Odisha achieved third place with a 558.57 sq km increase in total forest and tree cover. With a 684 sq km growth, Chhattisgarh led the list, followed by Uttar Pradesh (559.19 sq km). Rajasthan rose 394 square kilometers, placing it in fourth place. The survey stated that the current forest and tree cover in Odisha accounted for 37.63 percent of the state’s 1,55,707 sq km total land area. The documented forest area includes 33,040.47 sq km of forest cover, while the remaining 19,393.09 sq km are outside the state’s recorded forest area.

Odisha saw a 151.89 sq km increase in forest cover, while Mizoram and Gujarat came in top and second with increases of 241.73 sq km and 180.07 sq km, respectively. “Happy to share that #Odisha has emerged as the leading state in increasing green cover as per the biennial, ‘India State of Forest Report 2023’ prepared by @moefcc,” wrote former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on X, sharing the report’s main findings about the state.