Bhubaneswar, December 22: Odisha has achieved the second position in the country for the maximum increase in green cover within recorded forest areas, as per the India State of Forest Report 2023, released by Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav.
The biennial report, published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), highlighted that Odisha recorded a growth of 118.17 sq km of forest cover inside recorded forest areas, ranking just behind Mizoram, which topped with an increase of 192.92 sq km. Other states that showed notable increases include Karnataka (93.14 sq km), West Bengal (64.79 sq km), and Jharkhand (52.72 sq km).
In terms of combined forest and tree cover, Odisha secured the third position nationally, with an overall increase of 558.57 sq km, following Chhattisgarh (684 sq km) and Uttar Pradesh (559.19 sq km).
Current Forest Cover Statistics in Odisha
Total forest and tree cover: 37.63% of Odisha's total geographical area of 1,55,707 sq km.
Forest cover inside recorded areas: 33,040.47 sq km.
Forest cover outside recorded areas: 19,393.09 sq km.
Nationally, India saw a net increase of 156.41 sq km in forest cover since the 2021 assessment. Odisha registered a growth of 151.89 sq km, placing it third in overall forest cover growth. Mizoram and Gujarat ranked first and second with increases of 241.73 sq km and 180.07 sq km, respectively.
Oidha is 3rd leading state in combined forest and tree cover growth (559 sq km).
3rd highest increase in forest cover (152 sq km).
2nd in forest cover growth within recorded forest areas (118.17 sq km).
3rd in growing stock in agroforestry (88.53 sq km).
Bamboo-Bearing Area
Odisha also ranked fourth in bamboo -bearing area with 12,328 sq km, behind Madhya Pradesh (20,421 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (18,424 sq km), and Maharashtra (13,572 sq km).
The report underscores Odisha’s commitment to enhancing its green cover, contributing significantly to India’s overall forest sustainability goals.
