What is the definition of ‘Forest Cover’ in India?

As per decision Conference of Parties (CP) 9-Kyoto Protocol, the forest can be defined by any country depending upon the capacities and capabilities of the country as follows:-

Forest- Forest is defined structurally on the basis of:

• Crown cover percentage: Tree crown cover- 10 to 30% (India 10%)

• Minimum area of stand: area between 0.05 and 1 hectare (India 1.0 hectare) and

• Minimum height of trees: Potential to reach a minimum height at maturity in situ of 2 to 5 m (India 2m)

• As per the Government of India, India’s definition of forest has been taken on the basis of above three criteria only and very well accepted by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for their reporting/communications.

What is ‘forest cover’ in India?

• The forest cover is defined as ‘all land, more than one hectare in area, with a tree canopy density of more than 10 percent irrespective of ownership and legal status. Such land may not necessarily be a recorded forest area. It also includes orchards, bamboo and palm.

What are Inside & Outside Recorded Forest Areas?

• In India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 recently published by the Environment Ministry on 13^th January, 2022, the forest cover figures are divided as ‘Inside Recorded Forest Area’ and ‘Outside Recorded Forest Area’.

• Those ‘Inside Recorded Forest Area’ are basically natural forests and plantations of Forest Department.

• The Forest cover ‘Outside Recorded Forest Area’ are mango orchards, coconut plantations, block plantations of agroforestry.

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