Tree cover rising at cost of forests: Activists

With a tree cover of 9,558 sq km, Maharshtra has once again outdone other states in maintaining and increasing its tree cover. According to the India State of Forest Report, 2015, (ISFR) released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) recently, the state has recorded a five per cent increase in its total tree cover. However, environmentalists say that the increase is just an illusion of the state getting greener as the clearing up of forest lands are resulting in the growth of tree cover.

The FSI has defined tree cover as tree patches and isolated trees outside the recorded forest area that are less than one hectare in extent. These trees are generally found in villages along roads, canals, railway lines, among others, in urban areas. The FSI determines the state level estimate of tree cover by using small area estimation or sampling technique.

For 2015, Maharashtra has recorded 9,558 sq km under tree cover, which is the largest estimate among other states in the country.

A senior official from the social forestry department, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have been making efforts to plant saplings on patches of land that are not being used and especially along roadsides. The FSI report has proved that our efforts have borne fruit.”

While the gradual rise in the green cover is being attributed to the efforts made by the forestry and social forestry department, environmental activists claimed it’s just an eyewash as the increase in tree cover area is caused by the decrease in the state’s forest cover area. Stalin D, director of Vanshakti NGO, said, “Increase in tree cover in the state is not a positive news when you check the loss of forest cover that is actually resulting in more of these small patches of trees. Forests in areas such as Sawantwadi and Dodamarg are being cut down and replaced by rubber plantations. It is this loss of forest area that is adding to the increase in areas under tree cover.” In 2011, Maharashtra had 9,079 sq km under tree cover while the figures stood at 9,142 sq km in 2013.