Agartala, Apr 10: The forest cover has witnessed a gradual increase in recent years in majority of the states, but has declined sharply in other states, the country's top
forestry official has said.
Director general, Union forest ministry, M K Sharma, on a two-day trip to Tripura, told newsmen here yesterday that the first satellite data showed that the total forest cover area
of the country was 19.89 per cent, which reduced to 19.27 per cent in 1997 but rose to 19.89 per cent in 1999.
As per the latest report, the forest cover area has increased in 16 states, even as the forest cover area of 12 states declined sharply, Sharma said.
Sharma said among northeastern states, the forest cover has risen in Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.
He said there was scope for a successful joint forest management programme with Tripura, having a vast forest cover.
Proper utilisation of the forest cover would revolutionise forest-based economy in the state, Sharma noted.
Regarding the rehabilitation of people living in forest protected areas, the DG forest said he has suggested to state government officials to identify the exact number of people
living in such areas.
Bureau Report
