Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 10
Jammu and Kashmir’s forest cover increased by 224.39 sq km between 2019 and 2023, reaching 21,346.39 sq km, the central government told Parliament on Monday.
Data from the Forest Survey of India showed that forest cover in J&K stood at 21,122 sq km in 2019 before rising to 21,346.39 sq km in the 2023 India State of Forest Report.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh provided the figures in response to a question in the Lok Sabha concerning funding for afforestation and forest conservation programmes.
The government said Jammu and Kashmir received Rs 10.99 crore under the Green India Mission between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
During the same period, the National CAMPA programme approved Rs 28.54 crore for compensatory afforestation in J&K.
The Union Territory also received Rs 15.09 crore under the Nagar Van Yojana between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
The ministry said financial assistance is provided to states and Union territories through schemes including the Green India Mission, CAMPA, MISHTI and Nagar Van Yojana for afforestation, reforestation, ecological restoration and forest conservation.
The government, however, said it does not maintain a centralised database tracking the survival rate of saplings planted under forest conservation and tree-plantation programmes.
It said survival rates depend on several factors, including the species selected, location and climate, rainfall, soil moisture, protection from biotic interference and post-plantation maintenance.
Monitoring of plantations is carried out by implementing agencies and forest departments in accordance with the guidelines of the respective schemes.
Nationally, India’s forest cover increased by 3,093.14 sq km between 2019 and 2023, rising from 7,12,249.47 sq km to 7,15,342.61 sq km.
The national figure represents 21.76% of India’s geographical area.
The ministry also said 652 projects had been approved under the Nagar Van Yojana across India between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
The projects cover 19,348.591 hectares and have an approved cost of Rs 699.33 crore, of which Rs 564.39 crore has been released.
The government also highlighted the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” plantation campaign, launched on World Environment Day in 2024.
The campaign has continued with participation from government departments and other stakeholders, with the stated aim of increasing green cover.
The J&K figures provide a snapshot of changes in forest cover over the four-year period, while the funding data show the scale of central assistance provided through various afforestation and conservation schemes.
