SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s forest cover increased by 224.39 square kilometres between 2019 and 2023, taking the total forest cover in the Union Territory to 21,346.39 sq km, the Union Government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
According to the latest data of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), JK’s forest cover stood at 21,122 sq km in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 and rose to 21,346.39 sq km in ISFR 2023.
The data was provided by Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on funds sanctioned and utilised for afforestation.
At the national level, forest cover increased by 3,093.14 sq km, from 7,12,249.47 sq km in 2019 to 7,15,342.61 sq km in 2023, accounting for 21.76 per cent of India’s total geographical area.
The Centre said JK received Rs 10.99 crore under the Green India Mission during the five financial years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. It also received Rs 28.54 crore approved by the National CAMPA for compensatory afforestation during the same period.
Under the Nagar Van Yojana, JK received Rs 15.09 crore during 2020-21 to 2025-26.
Across the country, the Ministry said it provides financial assistance to States and Union Territories under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes and programmes, including the Green India Mission, CAMPA, MISHTI and Nagar Van Yojana, for afforestation, reforestation, ecological restoration and forest conservation.
The Ministry said 652 projects under the Nagar Van Yojana had been approved between 2020-21 and 2025-26, covering 19,348.591 hectares, at a total approved cost of Rs 699.33 crore. Of this, Rs 564.39 crore had been released.
The Government, however, said it did not maintain a centralised database on the survival rate of saplings planted under all forest conservation and tree plantation programmes. It said survival depends on factors including species selection, site and climatic conditions, rainfall, soil moisture, protection from biotic interference and post-plantation maintenance.
The Ministry also said monitoring of plantations is undertaken by implementing agencies and respective State Forest Departments in accordance with the guidelines of the concerned schemes.
It further highlighted the nationwide “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (#Plant4Mother) plantation campaign, launched on World Environment Day in 2024, which has continued this year with participation from government departments and other stakeholders to enhance green cover.
