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The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 prepared by the Forest Survey of India has been released.

Major findings of the ISFR

• The total forest and tree cover of the country has been estimated as 80.9 million which is 24.62% of the total geographical area of the country. There has been an increase in forest cover (to 1540 sq km) and tree cover (to 721 sq km). 
• Andhra Pradesh followed by Telangana and Odisha are the top three states showing an increase in forest cover. 
• Based on the area, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. 
• About 17 states/UTs have above 33% of the geographical area under forest cover.
• Total mangrove cover has been estimated as 4,992 sq km, which indicates an increase of 17 sq km in mangrove cover. 
• Odisha followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka have shown an increase in mangrove cover.
• Total carbon stock in the country’s forests is 7, 204 million tonnes, indicating an increase of 79.4 million tonnes in carbon stock. There is an annual increase in the carbon stock which is about 39.7 million tonnes. 

Significance of ISFR

• The Forest Survey of India included a new chapter related to the assessment of forest cover in tiger reserves, corridors and lion conservation areas of India. It is based on a decadal assessment of change in forest cover in those areas between the period of 2011 and the current cycle of 2019-2020. 
• Above Ground Biomass is a new chapter that is added. This study was carried out at a pan-India level using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The study is still continuing and a detailed report will be submitted after its completion.
• FSI, in collaboration with Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, carried out a study on climate change hotspots in Indian forests.