Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has lost 40 square kilometers of forest cover in the last two years, claims, a Forest Survey of India (FSI) report revealed.
According to India State of Forest Report-2023, Jammu and Kashmir had 21,346.39 square kilometers of forest cover in 2023. It included 4,208.79 Very Dense Areas (VDA), 8,006.56 Moderate Dense Areas (MDA), and 9,131.04 Open Forests (OF).
In contrast to the 21,346.39 square kilometers of forest cover in 2023, Jammu and Kashmir as per the FSI’s 2021 report had a forest cover of 21387 square kilometers, thereby witnessing a loss of 40.61 square kilometers.
In 2021, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 4155.11 square kilometers VDA, 8116.73 square kilometers MDA, and 9115.00 OF.
Divulging details of every district, the 2023 FSI report said Anantnag possessed 1,077.04 square kilometers of forest cover. Budgam, Bandipora, Baramula, Doda, Ganderbal, Jammu, Kathua, and Kishtwar recorded 352.85, 923.29, 886.44, 1,484.45, 496.34, 693.77, 1,329.28 and 1,787.96 square kilometres of forest cover, respectively.
Districts including Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Poonch, Rajauri, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, and Shopian recorded forest cover of 385.03, 1,520.35, 375.36, 2,000.25, 1,218.09, 660.23, 1,032.80, 335.29, and 315.96 square kilometers, respectively.
Other districts including Srinagar and Udhampur possessed a forest cover of 44.46 and 1,362.07, respectively.
The data suggested that the increasing number of forest fires within the union territory was causing a huge loss to the forests.
The reports claimed that 4156 forest fires have been detected between Nov 2023 to Jun 2024 through MODIS and SNPP-VIIRS sensors. This indicated that nearly 17 forest fires are being detected in Jammu and Kashmir on average daily.
An official from the forest department said that forest fires have increased due to the persistent dry winters in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have been witnessing that forest fires have increased considerably over the last few years. We act promptly and make use of technology including drones to control the fires. Simultaneously, plantation drives are being held across Jammu and Kashmir to increase the green cover,” he said.