NEW DELHI: Delhi’s green cover has increased marginally by 4.9 sq km, bringing the total to 371.3 sq km, according to the India State Forest Report 2023 released on Saturday. This accounts for 25% of Delhi’s total geographical area of 1,483 sq km. Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav unveiled the biennial report by the Forest Survey of India.
While the city’s forest cover saw a minor reduction of 0.1 sq km, dropping from 195.36 sq km in 2021 to 195.28 sq km in 2023, the tree cover improved significantly. Tree cover rose from 171.1 sq km in 2021 to 176 sq km in 2023, now constituting 11.9% of Delhi’s geographical area. The report attributes this increase to successful plantation drives and compensatory plantation efforts.
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Forest cover is defined as areas with tree cover having a canopy density of 10% or more and covering an area of at least one hectare. Tree cover refers to trees outside recorded forest areas. The 2023 report revised the methodology and data for 2021, showing adjustments in forest and tree cover figures.
Maharashtra leads in tree cover with 14,524.9 sq km, followed by Rajasthan (10,841.1 sq km) and Uttar Pradesh (8,950.9 sq km). In terms of the percentage of geographical area, Chandigarh boasts the highest tree cover at 18.6%, followed by Delhi at 11.9% and Kerala at 7.5%.
The forest cover is categorized as very dense (6.5 sq km), moderately dense (53.6 sq km), and open forest (135.3 sq km) within Delhi. Among the 11 districts, New Delhi recorded the highest reduction in forest cover by 0.9 sq km, now at 48.6 sq km in 2023. Very dense forests have a canopy density of 70% or more, moderately dense forests range between 40-70%, and open forests have a density of 10-40%.
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Despite the increase in green cover, experts have raised concerns about the methodology and quality of the tree cover. CR Babu, professor emeritus and head of the Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems, pointed out that invasive species have been included in the forest cover, resulting in low-quality tree cover that does not contribute significantly to the city’s ecological functions.
Activist Bhavreen Kandhari highlighted that satellite imagery used in the report might misrepresent tree cover, as even green tarpaulins can resemble tree canopies. She emphasized the need for accurate ground assessments. Tree activist Padmavati Dwivedi called for a closer examination of the species contributing to the green cover, noting the prevalence of exotic and non-local plants that do not support local biodiversity.