According to the Indian Forest Report 2015, ______ part of the total geographical area is covered by forests and trees. A. 22.16% B. 25.16% C. 23.16% D. 24.16%
D
Understanding India's Forest and Tree Cover: Insights from ISFR 2015
The question asks about the total percentage of India's geographical area covered by both forests and trees, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) released in 2015. These reports are crucial for monitoring the country's forest resources.
What is the India State of Forest Report (ISFR)?
The India State of Forest Report is a biennial publication by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. It is the authoritative assessment of India's forest cover, tree cover, and other parameters related to forests.
Key Findings of ISFR 2015 on Forest and Tree Cover
According to the ISFR 2015 report, the total forest and tree cover of the country was estimated to be 794,245 sq km, which accounted for 24.16% of the total geographical area of India.
- Forest Cover: This includes all land more than one hectare in area, with tree canopy density of 10 percent and above. It is based on satellite data.
- Tree Cover: This comprises tree patches outside the recorded forest area exclusive of forest cover and less than the minimum mappable area of 1 hectare. These patches are number of scattered trees.
- Total Forest and Tree Cover: This is the sum of Forest Cover and Tree Cover.
The ISFR 2015 specifically stated the total forest and tree cover percentage.
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the provided options and compare them with the data from ISFR 2015:
- A. 22.16%
- B. 25.16%
- C. 23.16%
- D. 24.16%
Based on the official figures published in the India State of Forest Report 2015, the total forest and tree cover was indeed 24.16% of India's geographical area.
Conclusion
Therefore, the percentage of the total geographical area covered by forests and trees, according to the Indian Forest Report 2015, is 24.16%.
| Report | Parameter | Value |
|---|---|---|
| ISFR 2015 | Total Forest and Tree Cover | 24.16% of Geographical Area |
Revision Table: India State of Forest Reports (Selected Years)
| Report Year | Total Forest and Tree Cover (% of Geographical Area) |
|---|---|
| ISFR 2011 | 23.41% |
| ISFR 2013 | 24.01% |
| ISFR 2015 | 24.16% |
| ISFR 2017 | 24.39% |
| ISFR 2019 | 24.56% |
| ISFR 2021 | 24.62% |
Additional Information on Forest Assessment
Understanding forest cover is important for environmental monitoring, climate change studies, and planning sustainable development. The ISFR uses remote sensing technology coupled with ground truthing to assess the forest and tree cover across India. The definitions of 'forest cover' and 'tree cover' are specific and based on scientific criteria to ensure consistency in reporting over the years. Changes in these percentages highlight trends in forest management and conservation efforts in the country.
The increase observed in the total forest and tree cover from ISFR 2013 to ISFR 2015, and subsequently in later reports, indicates a positive trend in increasing green cover in India, although challenges related to forest quality and specific forest types persist.
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