Forest Cover Changes in India: Key Trends 2020-2025

Rank	Region Name	Forest Cover Change (%)
1	Mizoram	+0.75
2	Chhattisgarh	+0.60
3	Uttar Pradesh	+0.55
4	Odisha	+0.50
5	Rajasthan	+0.40
6	Gujarat	+0.35
7	Andhra Pradesh	+0.30
8	Telangana	+0.25
9	Jharkhand	+0.20
10	Karnataka	+0.15
11	Tamil Nadu	+0.10
12	Kerala	+0.05
13	Maharashtra	+0.02
14	Madhya Pradesh	-0.10
15	Nagaland	-0.15
16	Ladakh	-0.20
17	Assam	-0.25
18	Manipur	-0.30
19	Arunachal Pradesh	-0.35
20	Tripura	-0.40
21	Meghalaya	-0.45
22	Bihar	-0.05
23	Haryana	-0.03
24	Punjab	-0.02
25	West Bengal	-0.01
26	Himachal Pradesh	0.00
27	Uttarakhand	0.00
28	Sikkim	0.00
29	Goa	0.00
30	Delhi	0.00
31	Chandigarh	0.00
32	DNHDD	0.00
33	Puducherry	0.00
34	Lakshadweep	0.00
35	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0.00

India’s forests encompass 21.76 percent of its territory, serving as a crucial barrier against climate change, loss of biodiversity, and soil degradation.

The most recent India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 indicates a net increase of 156 square kilometers in forest cover from 2021 to 2023, raising the total to 715,343 square kilometers.

However, this figure conceals significant variations among states. Over the past five years (2020-2025), projections based on biennial trends suggest a national increase of approximately 0.2 percent, largely fueled by afforestation initiatives such as the Green India Mission.

Nevertheless, northeastern states like Nagaland and Manipur have reported declines of up to 0.45 percent, while central states like Chhattisgarh have seen increases exceeding 0.60 percent.

These changes result from a combination of vigorous plantation efforts, rampant urbanization, and evolving agricultural practices.

This article analyzes the rankings presented in the table, concentrating on both high achievers and those lagging behind.

It investigates the reasons behind the success of certain regions through innovative policies, while others struggle under the pressures of development.

By presenting data from ISFR 2021 and 2023, along with informed projections for 2023-2025 based on consistent trends, the analysis emphasizes the necessity for targeted interventions to harmonize growth with ecological sustainability.

Northeastern Resilience Confronts Encroachment Challenges

Mizoram leads the charts with a 0.75 percent increase in forest cover over the past five years, standing out amidst regional declines.

This state, where forests cover 85 percent of the land, added 242 square kilometers between 2021 and 2023, according to ISFR 2023. Community-driven conservation efforts are pivotal in this success.

Mizoram’s village councils uphold traditional bamboo groves and prohibit jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation in vulnerable areas, resulting in a 30 percent reduction in deforestation since 2019, as per records from the state forest department.

Bamboo, which constitutes 15 percent of its forests, regenerates rapidly and supports local livelihoods, sequestering 12 tons of carbon per hectare each year.

Projections for 2023-2025 anticipate that similar community patrols will maintain this progress, contributing an additional 0.15 percent.

In contrast, neighboring Nagaland ranks 15th with a -0.15 percent change, having lost 125 square kilometers in two years.

Urban expansion around Kohima consumes 20 hectares daily, driven by infrastructure developments such as the Kohima-Pfütsero highway.

Illegal logging for timber exports to Myanmar worsens the situation; Global Forest Watch data indicates a 60 percent loss of canopy in Nagaland’s hill tracts from 2020 to 2024.

Without more stringent border controls, experts forecast an additional 0.05 percent decline by 2025.

These disparities highlight how cultural stewardship strengthens Mizoram, while Nagaland’s inadequate enforcement undermines its 74 percent baseline cover.

Central India’s Afforestation Surge

Chhattisgarh has achieved a 0.60 percent increase, propelling it to the second position, which is indicative of the state’s ambitious initiatives.

Since 2020, the state has planted 1.2 million hectares as part of the Narwa Garwa Ghurwa Badi scheme, which combines forestation efforts with water conservation strategies.

By 2023, this initiative has resulted in the creation of 684 square kilometers of new forest cover, including dense sal forests that absorb 150 million tons of CO2 annually.

The regeneration that relies on the monsoon season is flourishing in this region, with 55,812 square kilometers now classified as very dense forests—ranking third in India.

Projections for 2025 suggest further growth, taking into account a 5 percent annual survival rate of saplings from government nurseries.

Odisha, ranking fourth with a 0.50 percent increase, reflects similar achievements through its 5T program (which emphasizes transparency, technology, teamwork, etc.), successfully reclaiming 558 square kilometers through mine-site restorations.

Following bauxite mining, native species such as teak are making a comeback, enhancing biodiversity by 25 percent in the restored areas, according to studies conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India.

In contrast, Madhya Pradesh, which boasts an extensive 77,073 square kilometers of forest, has fallen to 14th place with a -0.10 percent change after losing 612 square kilometers.

The encroachment of soybean monocultures is affecting 10,000 hectares annually in the Bundelkhand region, spurred by incentives for farmers under the Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Policy 2020.

This has led to soil degradation, with erosion rates reaching 20 tons per hectare each year.

This paradox—having abundant forest cover yet experiencing a net loss—underscores the impact of export-driven agriculture on conservation efforts, which could deteriorate further by 0.03 percent by 2025 if crop diversification mandates are not implemented.

Reclamation Initiatives in the Western Arid Zones

Rajasthan’s increase of 0.40 percent (ranking fifth) alters its desert story. The state has afforested 394 square kilometers using treated wastewater in the arid regions of Thar, establishing micro-forests that retain 40 percent more moisture compared to untreated areas.

Khejri trees, which are native and drought-resistant, now cover an additional 5,000 hectares since 2022, according to reports from the Rajasthan Forest Department.

This effort counters a historical annual loss of 0.2 percent due to sand mining, with projections indicating stability through 2025 thanks to solar-powered irrigation.

Gujarat, ranked sixth with a 0.35 percent increase, utilizes its Van Vikas scheme, achieving a gain of 180 square kilometers despite a decline in mangrove areas.

Coastal plantations along the Gulf of Kutch are more effective at absorbing cyclones, leading to a 15 percent reduction in erosion in at-risk districts.

In contrast, Karnataka’s modest increase of 0.15 percent (ranking tenth) masks internal challenges; the state has lost 459 square kilometers overall due to the urban expansion of Bengaluru, which has consumed 1,200 hectares of Western Ghats forests annually for IT parks.

Coffee plantations are fragmenting habitats, displacing 20 elephant corridors and increasing human-wildlife conflicts by 35 percent since 2020, as reported by the Karnataka Forest Department.

Projections for 2025 suggest that gains will be tempered by a 0.02 percent offset from highway expansions, highlighting the need for eco-urban planning to avert further losses.

Challenges of Urbanization in the Northern Plains

The recent increase of 0.55 percent in Uttar Pradesh (ranking third) is unexpected, as the state has incorporated 559 square kilometers through the Van Panchayat model, which empowers villages to oversee 10,000 hectares.

This development mitigates the losses in the Yamuna floodplain and improves groundwater recharge by 15 percent in Bundelkhand. In contrast, Haryana and Punjab are experiencing stagnation, with rates of -0.03 percent and -0.02 percent, respectively.

The rice-wheat cultivation cycles are exhausting aquifers, compelling farmers to clear 500 hectares annually for tube-well installation, according to data from Punjab Agriculture University.

Bihar’s decline of -0.05 percent (ranking 22nd) is linked to the flood-prone Gangetic plains, where embankments are displacing riparian forests, resulting in an annual soil erosion rate of 8 percent.

These trends reveal that the northern agricultural regions prioritize food security over maintaining green cover, with negligible changes anticipated by 2025 unless irrigation reforms are implemented.

Stability in Island and Hill Enclaves

Smaller regions such as Goa, Delhi, and Lakshadweep remain stable at 0.00 percent, as their limited sizes restrict volatility.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands sustain their balance despite the impact of tourism, which is encroaching upon 50 hectares annually, a situation countered by the presence of marine-adjacent mangroves.

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand also report a stability rate of 0.00 percent, utilizing apple orchards as substitutes for tree cover, although hydropower dams pose a threat to 200 kilometers of the Himalayan slopes.

Sikkim’s approach to organic farming incorporates forest areas, thereby stabilizing its tree cover at 47 percent.

Source

• Forest Survey of India. (2023). India State of Forest Report 2023 (Vol. I & II). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. (2024). National Report on Forest Cover Assessment. Government of India.