Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav highlighted forest fires as a serious issue, emphasizing their impact on forest quality and the increasing risk of encroachments. He suggested that areas experiencing recurrent fires over the past five years should be classified separately, with dedicated advance action plans implemented for those regions.
During a press conference, the minister discussed the challenges states like Uttarakhand face in securing land for compensatory afforestation. He underscored the need to balance ecology and economy, announcing that special plans will be designed for states with low forest and tree cover.
Forest and Tree Cover Statistics
According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Uttarakhand reported 21,033 fire alerts between November 2023 and 2024—the highest in the country—followed by Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and others. However, the overall growth rate of forest and tree cover in India has slowed. While the 2021 report noted an increase of 2,261 sq km, the latest figures show a rise of just 1,445 sq km.
