India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023
About the Report
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | India State of Forest Report (ISFR) |
| Published by | Forest Survey of India (FSI) under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
| Frequency | Biennial (every 2 years) since 1987 |
| Latest edition | ISFR 2023 — 18th edition (released December 2024) |
| Next edition | ISFR 2025 — not yet released as of April 2026 |
| Methodology | Remote sensing satellite data interpretation + field-based National Forest Inventory (NFI) |
| Definitions | Forest cover = all land with tree canopy density >10%, area >1 ha (irrespective of legal ownership) |
Forest Cover Classification
| Category | Canopy Density | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Very Dense Forest (VDF) | >70% | Typically undisturbed natural forest |
| Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) | 40–70% | Partially disturbed or managed forests |
| Open Forest (OF) | 10–40% | Degraded, scrubby, or early-stage forests |
| Scrub | <10% canopy | Degraded land — NOT included in forest cover |
| Tree cover | Trees outside forests on <1 ha patches | Counted separately from forest cover |
Note: FSI uses LISS-III satellite imagery (Resourcesat-2 and 2A) at 23.5 m resolution for mapping. From ISFR 2021 onwards, 1:50,000 scale mapping is used for most areas.
ISFR 2023 — National Headline Figures
| Metric | Value | % of Geographical Area |
|---|---|---|
| India's total geographical area | 32,87,263 km² | 100% |
| Forest Cover | 7,15,343 km² | 21.76% |
| Very Dense Forest | 99,779 km² | 3.04% |
| Moderately Dense Forest | 3,06,890 km² | 9.33% |
| Open Forest | 3,08,675 km² | 9.39% |
| Tree Cover | 1,12,014 km² | 3.41% |
| Forest + Tree Cover (combined) | 8,27,357 km² | 25.17% |
| Scrub | 48,657 km² | 1.48% |
| Mangrove Cover | 4,992 km² | 0.15% |
| Bamboo-bearing area | 1,54,670 km² | — |
| Total Carbon Stock | 7,285.5 million tonnes | — |
| Carbon stock increase from 2021 | +81.5 Mt | — |
Change from ISFR 2021
| Category | Change (km²) | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Total Forest + Tree Cover | +1,445 km² | ↑ Increase |
| Forest Cover alone | +156 km² | ↑ Increase |
| Tree Cover | +1,289 km² | ↑ Increase |
| Mangrove Cover | +17 km² | ↑ Increase |
Forest Cover by State — Top and Bottom
Top 5 States by Total Forest Cover (Area)
| Rank | State | Forest Cover (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madhya Pradesh | 77,073 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 66,431 |
| 3 | Chhattisgarh | 55,611 |
| 4 | Odisha | 52,156 |
| 5 | Maharashtra | 50,778 |
Top 5 States by Forest Cover as % of State Area
| Rank | State/UT | % of State Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakshadweep | 90.33% |
| 2 | Mizoram | 85.34% |
| 3 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 81.62% |
| 4 | Arunachal Pradesh | 79.33% |
| 5 | Manipur | 74.34% |
States with Highest Forest Cover Gain (since ISFR 2021)
| State | Gain (km²) | Reason cited |
|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh | +684 | Afforestation + forest protection |
| Odisha | +537 | Conservation efforts |
| Rajasthan | +394 | Plantation drives on degraded land |
States with Notable Forest Cover Loss
| State | Loss (km²) | Reason cited |
|---|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | −257 | Jhum cultivation, infrastructure |
| Manipur | −249 | Shifting cultivation |
| Nagaland | −235 | Jhum cultivation |
Concern: Northeast India — historically richest in biodiversity — showing persistent forest loss due to jhum (shifting) cultivation, infrastructure development, and population pressure.
Carbon Stock Analysis
| Carbon Pool | Value (Million Tonnes) |
|---|---|
| Soil Organic Carbon | 4,003.3 |
| Biomass (above + below ground) | 3,282.2 |
| Total Carbon Stock | 7,285.5 |
| Change from 2021 | +81.5 Mt |
- India's forest carbon stock = 30.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
- This exceeds the 2005 base year by +2.29 billion tonnes CO₂ eq.
- India's 2030 NDC target: 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes additional carbon stock → target nearly achieved (1 year early), per ISFR 2023 estimates.
India's NDC commitment: Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 (Paris Agreement pledge).
Mangrove Cover
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| India's total mangrove cover (ISFR 2023) | 4,992 km² |
| Change from 2021 | +17 km² (increase) |
| India's global rank | 2nd largest mangrove country globally |
| % of world's mangroves | ~3% |
Mangrove Cover by State (Top 5)
| Rank | State | Mangrove Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Bengal | 2,114 |
| 2 | Gujarat | 1,177 |
| 3 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 616 |
| 4 | Andhra Pradesh | 404 |
| 5 | Odisha | 231 |
State-wise Mangrove Change (ISFR 2023 vs 2021)
| State | Change | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | +13 km² | ↑ |
| Maharashtra | +12 km² | ↑ |
| Gujarat | −36 km² | ↓ (largest loss) |
MISHTI Programme (2023–onward): Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes — launched under Union Budget 2023-24 to restore mangroves along India's coastline. In 2025: 4,536 ha restored (PIB Year-end Review 2025).
Bamboo Resources
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bamboo-bearing area (ISFR 2023) | 1,54,670 km² |
| India's bamboo area (GFRA 2025) | ~11.8 million ha |
| India's global share | ~40% of world's bamboo forests |
| India's global rank | 1st in bamboo area |
| India's bamboo species | 136 species (2nd in diversity after China) |
Top bamboo states:
- Northeastern states + West Bengal → >50% of India's bamboo.
- Others: Andaman & Nicobar, Chhattisgarh, MP, Western Ghats.
Forest Fire
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Forest fire-prone area | ~35.46% of India's total forest cover |
| Very highly fire-prone | ~2.81% of forest cover |
| Highly fire-prone | ~7.85% |
| States most affected | Odisha, Chhattisgarh, MP, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh |
| Fire season | February–June (peaks in March–April in most regions) |
| Technology used | MODIS and VIIRS satellite data for near-real-time alerts |
| Forest Fire Alert System | Operated by FSI; sends SMS/email alerts to state forest departments |
Tip for UPSC: Forest fire is listed as a separate chapter in ISFR reports. Fire reduces carbon stock, destroys biodiversity, causes soil erosion, and displaces wildlife.
Biodiversity Insights from ISFR 2023
| Metric | Leader |
|---|---|
| Maximum tree species richness | Karnataka |
| Maximum shrub species richness | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Maximum herb species richness | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Maximum overall species richness (trees+shrubs+herbs) | Arunachal Pradesh (followed by TN, Karnataka) |
| Highest tree diversity (forest type) | Tropical Wet Evergreen + Semi-Evergreen of Western Ghats, followed by Northeastern forests |
| Lowest tree diversity | Sub-tropical dry evergreen (J&K); forest-deficit states (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan) |
ISFR Series — Key Milestones
| Year | Edition | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1st | First systematic FSI assessment |
| 2001 | 8th | Digital maps introduced |
| 2009 | 12th | Tree cover reported separately for first time |
| 2011 | 13th | Carbon stock assessment added |
| 2017 | 15th | Bamboo resources chapter added |
| 2019 | 16th | Wetland cover mapped |
| 2021 | 17th | 1:50,000 scale maps; district-level data |
| 2023 | 18th | Carbon NDC target tracking; MISHTI impact; latest official report |
| 2025 | 19th | Not yet released (as of April 2026) |
Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025
Published by FAO, released in Bali, October 22, 2025.
| India's Metric | Rank | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total forest area | 9th globally (up from 10th in GFRA 2020) | ~72.7 million ha |
| Annual net forest gain (2015–2025) | 3rd globally | ~1.91 lakh ha/year |
| Carbon sinks (forests) | 5th globally | ~150 Mt CO₂/year |
| Bamboo area | 1st globally | ~11.8 million ha |
| Rubber plantations | 5th globally | 831,000 ha |
Global context:
- World total forest area: ~4.14 billion ha (~32% of Earth's land area)
- Annual net forest loss fell: 10.7 Mha/year (1990–2000) → 4.12 Mha/year (2015–2025)
- Drivers of India's forest gain: Green India Mission, CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund), National Afforestation Programme (NAP), farm forestry.
Key Government Policies and Programmes
| Programme | Ministry | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Green India Mission (GIM) | MoEFCC | 10 Mha additional forest/tree cover; improve quality of forest cover |
| CAMPA | MoEFCC | Compensatory Afforestation from diversion of forest land for development |
| National Afforestation Programme (NAP) | MoEFCC | Afforestation of degraded forest land through Forest Development Agencies |
| MISHTI | MoEFCC / State govts | Mangrove restoration along coastline |
| National Bamboo Mission (NBM) | MoEFCC | Promote bamboo cultivation, processing, and marketing |
| Project BOLD | KVIC | Bamboo-based green patches in arid/semi-arid zones |
| Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam | PMO / MoEFCC | Mass tree-planting campaign — 262.4 crore saplings by December 2025 |
UPSC Corner
Key One-Liners for Prelims
- ISFR published by FSI (Forest Survey of India) under MoEFCC — biennial since 1987
- Latest ISFR = 18th edition (2023) released December 2024; ISFR 2025 = not yet released
- India's forest cover = 7,15,343 km² = 21.76% of geographical area (ISFR 2023)
- India's forest + tree cover = 8,27,357 km² = 25.17%
- India's NDC target = additional 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent carbon sink by 2030 — nearly achieved
- India's mangrove cover = 4,992 km² — 2nd largest globally — West Bengal has most (Sundarbans)
- Carbon stock = 7,285.5 million tonnes (+81.5 Mt from 2021)
- Most forested state by area: Madhya Pradesh; by % of area: Lakshadweep (90.33%)
- Max forest gain: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan; Max forest loss: Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland
- India = 9th globally in forest area, 3rd in annual gain, 5th carbon sink (GFRA 2025, FAO)
- India = 1st in bamboo area globally (~11.8 Mha, ~40% of world) — GFRA 2025
Mains GS3 Questions
- "Critically analyse the findings of ISFR 2023 in the context of India's commitments under the Paris Agreement."
- "Discuss the threats to India's forest cover in the Northeast and the policy measures to address them."
- "What is compensatory afforestation? Evaluate the effectiveness of CAMPA in protecting India's forest cover."
- "Examine the significance of mangroves as a coastal protection mechanism and assess India's performance in mangrove conservation."
MCQ Trap Awareness
- Trap: "India has 25.17% forest cover" → Misleading — 25.17% is forest + tree cover; forest cover alone is 21.76%.
- Trap: "ISFR is published annually" → Wrong — published biennially (every 2 years).
- Trap: "Latest ISFR is 2025" → Wrong — ISFR 2025 not released yet (April 2026); latest is ISFR 2023.
- Trap: "India has the largest mangrove cover globally" → Wrong — India ranks 2nd (Indonesia is 1st).
- Trap: "India ranks 10th globally in forest area" → Outdated — India is 9th per GFRA 2025.
- Trap: "GFRA is published by MoEFCC" → Wrong — GFRA is published by FAO (UN).
- Trap: "Maximum forest cover % is in Mizoram" → Wrong for UTs — Lakshadweep (90.33%) is highest; among states (excluding UTs), Mizoram (85.34%) is highest.
- Trap: "India's NDC carbon target is already achieved" → Careful — ISFR 2023 says nearly achieved (2.29 billion tonnes added, target is 2.5–3.0 Bt) — not fully achieved yet.
- Trap: "Northeast India is gaining forest cover" → Largely wrong — Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland are showing forest loss due to jhum cultivation and development pressure.
India's forest carbon stock = 30.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
This exceeds the 2005 base year by +2.29 billion tonnes CO₂ eq.
India's 2030 NDC target: 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes additional carbon stock → target nearly achieved (1 year early), per ISFR 2023 estimates.
World total forest area: ~4.14 billion ha (~32% of Earth's land area)
Annual net forest loss fell: 10.7 Mha/year (1990–2000) → 4.12 Mha/year (2015–2025)
Drivers of India's forest gain: Green India Mission, CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund), National Afforestation Programme (NAP), farm forestry.
ISFR published by FSI (Forest Survey of India) under MoEFCC — biennial since 1987
Latest ISFR = 18th edition (2023) released December 2024; ISFR 2025 = not yet released
India's forest cover = 7,15,343 km² = 21.76% of geographical area (ISFR 2023)
India's forest + tree cover = 8,27,357 km² = 25.17%
India's NDC target = additional 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent carbon sink by 2030 — nearly achieved
India's mangrove cover = 4,992 km² — 2nd largest globally — West Bengal has most (Sundarbans)
Carbon stock = 7,285.5 million tonnes (+81.5 Mt from 2021)
Most forested state by area: Madhya Pradesh; by % of area: Lakshadweep (90.33%)
Max forest gain: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan; Max forest loss: Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland
India = 9th globally in forest area, 3rd in annual gain, 5th carbon sink (GFRA 2025, FAO)
India = 1st in bamboo area globally (~11.8 Mha, ~40% of world) — GFRA 2025
Trap: "India has 25.17% forest cover" → Misleading — 25.17% is forest + tree cover; forest cover alone is 21.76%.
Trap: "ISFR is published annually" → Wrong — published biennially (every 2 years).
Trap: "Latest ISFR is 2025" → Wrong — ISFR 2025 not released yet (April 2026); latest is ISFR 2023.
Trap: "India has the largest mangrove cover globally" → Wrong — India ranks 2nd (Indonesia is 1st).
Trap: "India ranks 10th globally in forest area" → Outdated — India is 9th per GFRA 2025.
Trap: "GFRA is published by MoEFCC" → Wrong — GFRA is published by FAO (UN).
Trap: "Maximum forest cover % is in Mizoram" → Wrong for UTs — Lakshadweep (90.33%) is highest; among states (excluding UTs), Mizoram (85.34%) is highest.