Increase of forest area in India; more than 50% of Kerala covered by forests and trees

KOCHI: An increase of 1445.81 square kilometres in the country's forest area in two years. Forests cover 25.17 percent of the country's area. Total forest area is 8,27,356.95 sq km. Covering an area of ​​38,852 square kilometres, 56.78 percent of Kerala is covered by forests and trees.

The forest area of ​​Kerala was 21,253 square kilometers in 2021 and increased to 22,059.36 in 2023. An increase of 806.36 sq km. 2,041.17 square kilometers are dense forests. Moderately dense forest area of ​​9,321.82 sq km. 10,696.37 sq. km will fall under the category of open forest.

These are mentioned in the report of Forest Survey of India (FSI) in Dehradun. The report is prepared once every two years. The forest area of ​​the country was 7,13,789 square kilometers in 2021. 21.71 percent of the country's total area. Forest areas are defined as dense forests, plantation areas, and areas defined as open forest with trees. Satellite systems are also used for studies. Mangroves have also increased in Kerala.

The forest department said that the main reason for the increase in forest area is the success of activities like forest conservation, afforestation and tree plantation. Effective forest fire control has also helped.

Previous studies

(year, square kilometers)

2017-20,321

2019-21,144

2021- 21,253

2023-22,059.36

Forest in Kerala

(District, sq km)

Alappuzha-140.92

Ernakulam-1,469.01

Idukki-3,210.92

Kannur-1,832.09

Kasaragod-1,138.03

Kollam-1,196.58

Kottayam-1,343.77

Kozhikode-1,882.06

Malappuram-2,164.83

Palakkad-2,046.83

Pathanamthitta-1,356.48

Thiruvananthapuram-1,394.47

Thrissur-1,290.03

Wayanad-1,593.34

Mangrove

(year, square kilometres)

2003-8

2005-5

2011-6

2017-10

2021-9.43

2023-9.45