According to ISFR report, Odisha ranks fifth among all states in terms of decadal growth of forest cover from 2013 to 2023
OdishaPlus Bureau
Odisha has successfully expanded its green cover by 1,889 square kilometers over the past decade, despite significant pressures on its forests. This expansion has resulted in a 10 percent increase in the growing stock for the recorded forest area (RFA) and a remarkable 58 percent increase for tree cover outside the RFA during the same period. This information was highlighted in the recently released India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), which emphasized that these figures serve as crucial indicators of forest health and productivity. According to the report, Odisha ranks fifth among all states in terms of decadal growth of forest cover from 2013 to 2023.
The report indicates that the state’s green cover has risen from 50,544.71 square kilometers in 2013 to 52,433.56 square kilometers in 2023, marking an increase of 3.74 percent. In comparison, neighboring Andhra Pradesh has experienced the highest decadal change in forest cover, with a rise of 3,041.43 square kilometers, followed by Kerala with 3,675.41 square kilometers, Karnataka with 3,083.59 square kilometers, and Tamil Nadu with 2,205.01 square kilometers. For Odisha, the decadal change in forest cover within the RFA is recorded at 133.14 square kilometers, while the increase for green cover outside the RFA stands at 1,755.71 square kilometers.
The recent changes have significantly benefited the state by enhancing its growing stock, which is a crucial indicator of forest health and productivity. According to the report, Odisha’s growing stock within forested areas has risen by 23.98 million cubic meters (mm3), increasing from 235.76 mm3 in 2013 to 259.74 mm3 in 2023, reflecting a growth of 10 percent over the past decade.
In a similar vein, the growing stock for the green cover outside the designated forest areas has seen an increase of 43.20 mm3, moving from 74.49 mm3 in 2013 to 117.69 mm3 in 2023, demonstrating a remarkable growth of approximately 58 percent.
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