Forest cover declines in 12 states and UTs: Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar

NEW DELHI: The forest cover of 12 states and Union Territories has declined by over 1200 sq kms due to a variety of reasons including encroachment and mining, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Replying to a question, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said as per India State of Forest Report 2013, the total forest cover in the country is 697,898 sq km, which is 21.23 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.

"There is a net increase of 5871 sq km in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report 2011," he said.

Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have reported decline in forest cover due to encroachment, open cast mining, drying up of mangroves after tsumani and shifting cultivation practices.