Question

There is a gradual increase in the forest cover in India in recent times.

Briefly explain why there is a gradual increase in the forest cover in India in the recent times.

Answer 1

India’s forest and tree cover rises by 8,021 sq. km, up 1% since 2015, to 802,088 sq. km, which is about 24.39% of the total geographical area of the country India announced a voluntary target in 2015 of creating additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.Such measures government of India taken so indian forest area is increasing. 

Answer 2

1. The gradual increase in India’s forest cover in recent years has been driven mostly by extensive government afforestation programs, community conservation, and the widespread adoption of agroforestry. Large-scale ecological restoration projects, such as the Green India Mission (GIM) and the National Afforestation Program, have successfully restored degraded lands throughout the country. Furthermore, government incentives for agroforestry and farm forestry have encouraged farmers to plant commercial trees on agricultural lands, resulting in dramatically increased tree cover outside of registered forest areas.
2. Active community involvement through Joint Forest Management committees, combined with the implementation of stricter conservation regulations against illegal logging and shifting cultivation, has improved the protection and natural regeneration of existing forest areas. Furthermore, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) manages real-time satellite surveillance and forest fire alert systems, which have reduced large-scale forest degradation and contributed to a continuous increase in green cover.