Forest Cover | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


Forest Cover
Out of total area of 53,483 sq.km. of Uttarakhand forest cover over 37799.60
sq.km. As per the FSI’s State of Forest Report 2015, Uttarakhand has a
recorded forest area of 38,000 sq. km species of flora and fauna, many of
which are protected by national parks, sanctuaries and bio-sphere reserves.
As per FSI Uttarakhand forest is classified under the following different
forest types: • Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Tropical Dry deciduous
Forest • Subtropical Pine Forest • Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest •
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Plantation/Trees Outside Forest.
Various types of forest include-
Forest Under Forest Department- this forest is managed by Department
of Forests under the provision of Indian Forest Act. This involves largest area
under forest with Total area involving 25,858.18 sq.km.
Panchayat Forest- thse forest include unique system of Van Panchayats
and total area under this type of forest is 7168.50 sq.km.
Revenue Forest- this type of forests are managed by revenue department
and involves total area of 4768.70 sq.km.
Other Forest- forest cover under other agencies involves total area of
156.44 sq.km.
Deemed Forests- Recently this category of forests has become part of
litigation in the courts as there was no definition of these forests. State govt
has now clarified that all forests categorized in revenue records of the state
will not be considered as forests. Only those areas having area more than 10
Ha and canopy density of more than 60 % will be considered as forests.
Forests with any kind of ownership having more than 10 Ha of area 75% of
vegetation as indigenous variety and canopy density more than 60% will also
be considered as deemed forests.
Issue- Supreme Court in a verdict asked Central Government to clearly
define deemed forests. On that direction the state government framed clear
definition of deemed forests. In this an area less than 10 Ha which has
been registerded as forest on revenue records will no more be considered
Page 2


Forest Cover
Out of total area of 53,483 sq.km. of Uttarakhand forest cover over 37799.60
sq.km. As per the FSI’s State of Forest Report 2015, Uttarakhand has a
recorded forest area of 38,000 sq. km species of flora and fauna, many of
which are protected by national parks, sanctuaries and bio-sphere reserves.
As per FSI Uttarakhand forest is classified under the following different
forest types: • Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Tropical Dry deciduous
Forest • Subtropical Pine Forest • Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest •
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Plantation/Trees Outside Forest.
Various types of forest include-
Forest Under Forest Department- this forest is managed by Department
of Forests under the provision of Indian Forest Act. This involves largest area
under forest with Total area involving 25,858.18 sq.km.
Panchayat Forest- thse forest include unique system of Van Panchayats
and total area under this type of forest is 7168.50 sq.km.
Revenue Forest- this type of forests are managed by revenue department
and involves total area of 4768.70 sq.km.
Other Forest- forest cover under other agencies involves total area of
156.44 sq.km.
Deemed Forests- Recently this category of forests has become part of
litigation in the courts as there was no definition of these forests. State govt
has now clarified that all forests categorized in revenue records of the state
will not be considered as forests. Only those areas having area more than 10
Ha and canopy density of more than 60 % will be considered as forests.
Forests with any kind of ownership having more than 10 Ha of area 75% of
vegetation as indigenous variety and canopy density more than 60% will also
be considered as deemed forests.
Issue- Supreme Court in a verdict asked Central Government to clearly
define deemed forests. On that direction the state government framed clear
definition of deemed forests. In this an area less than 10 Ha which has
been registerded as forest on revenue records will no more be considered
forests if the criteria of canopy and indigenous varities is not met. As per
environmentalists this is a conspiracy to destroy forests as no permission
will be required to start any commercial activity such as construction of
resorts if this area is declared as non forests. They also argue that
Uttarakhand has limited forest, with more than 60% canopy. Government,
however argues that, there is complete ban on cutting trees in Himalayan
region above 1000m of elevation and permission has to be still taken for
cutting trees even in private land. Government also says on revenue
record, patwaris have shown forests even on private land which is covered
with trees and bushes. To what extent it is justifiable to make people to
take permission from forest department for starting commercial activities
on their own land.
 
Uttarakhand is very rich in forest cover. As reported by land-use data,
Ministry of Agriculture, forests (3800 thousand hectares) cover about 71.05%
percent of the reported area for land utilization in the state (5992 thousand
hectares). In terms of geographic area, the forest cover was found to be 45.43
percent, compared to the corresponding all-India figure of 21.54 percent.
However, nearly 55 percent of forestland in the state is concentrated in
Uttarkashi, Chamoli, PauriGarhwal and TehriGarhwal. There are 165 forest
settlements in the forestland. Out of these, 70 villages are located in Almora
(24), Nainital (26), and Dehradun (20)5. Around 60 percent of the population
in such villages lives in Nainital and another 28 percent in Udham Singh
Nagar and Haridwar. Thus, forests in areas such as Nainital, Udham Singh
Nagar, and Haridwar are highly stressed and face the threat of degradation.
With a high share of forested area, there is limited scope for expanding the
area under forest cover in Uttarakhand. The percentage change in forest cover
at present is negative. The quality of forest cover is also important, and the
baseline for the total land area covered by dense forests as a share of the total
forest cover is 34 percent. The baseline for afforestation (including all types
of plantations) is 18,251 hectares.
Status of Forests- In Uttarakhand, 9 percent of the geographical area is
under Very Dense Forests (VDF), 24 percent of total forest cover under
Moderate Dense Forests (MDF), 12 percent under Open Forests (OF), around
Page 3


Forest Cover
Out of total area of 53,483 sq.km. of Uttarakhand forest cover over 37799.60
sq.km. As per the FSI’s State of Forest Report 2015, Uttarakhand has a
recorded forest area of 38,000 sq. km species of flora and fauna, many of
which are protected by national parks, sanctuaries and bio-sphere reserves.
As per FSI Uttarakhand forest is classified under the following different
forest types: • Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Tropical Dry deciduous
Forest • Subtropical Pine Forest • Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest •
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Plantation/Trees Outside Forest.
Various types of forest include-
Forest Under Forest Department- this forest is managed by Department
of Forests under the provision of Indian Forest Act. This involves largest area
under forest with Total area involving 25,858.18 sq.km.
Panchayat Forest- thse forest include unique system of Van Panchayats
and total area under this type of forest is 7168.50 sq.km.
Revenue Forest- this type of forests are managed by revenue department
and involves total area of 4768.70 sq.km.
Other Forest- forest cover under other agencies involves total area of
156.44 sq.km.
Deemed Forests- Recently this category of forests has become part of
litigation in the courts as there was no definition of these forests. State govt
has now clarified that all forests categorized in revenue records of the state
will not be considered as forests. Only those areas having area more than 10
Ha and canopy density of more than 60 % will be considered as forests.
Forests with any kind of ownership having more than 10 Ha of area 75% of
vegetation as indigenous variety and canopy density more than 60% will also
be considered as deemed forests.
Issue- Supreme Court in a verdict asked Central Government to clearly
define deemed forests. On that direction the state government framed clear
definition of deemed forests. In this an area less than 10 Ha which has
been registerded as forest on revenue records will no more be considered
forests if the criteria of canopy and indigenous varities is not met. As per
environmentalists this is a conspiracy to destroy forests as no permission
will be required to start any commercial activity such as construction of
resorts if this area is declared as non forests. They also argue that
Uttarakhand has limited forest, with more than 60% canopy. Government,
however argues that, there is complete ban on cutting trees in Himalayan
region above 1000m of elevation and permission has to be still taken for
cutting trees even in private land. Government also says on revenue
record, patwaris have shown forests even on private land which is covered
with trees and bushes. To what extent it is justifiable to make people to
take permission from forest department for starting commercial activities
on their own land.
 
Uttarakhand is very rich in forest cover. As reported by land-use data,
Ministry of Agriculture, forests (3800 thousand hectares) cover about 71.05%
percent of the reported area for land utilization in the state (5992 thousand
hectares). In terms of geographic area, the forest cover was found to be 45.43
percent, compared to the corresponding all-India figure of 21.54 percent.
However, nearly 55 percent of forestland in the state is concentrated in
Uttarkashi, Chamoli, PauriGarhwal and TehriGarhwal. There are 165 forest
settlements in the forestland. Out of these, 70 villages are located in Almora
(24), Nainital (26), and Dehradun (20)5. Around 60 percent of the population
in such villages lives in Nainital and another 28 percent in Udham Singh
Nagar and Haridwar. Thus, forests in areas such as Nainital, Udham Singh
Nagar, and Haridwar are highly stressed and face the threat of degradation.
With a high share of forested area, there is limited scope for expanding the
area under forest cover in Uttarakhand. The percentage change in forest cover
at present is negative. The quality of forest cover is also important, and the
baseline for the total land area covered by dense forests as a share of the total
forest cover is 34 percent. The baseline for afforestation (including all types
of plantations) is 18,251 hectares.
Status of Forests- In Uttarakhand, 9 percent of the geographical area is
under Very Dense Forests (VDF), 24 percent of total forest cover under
Moderate Dense Forests (MDF), 12 percent under Open Forests (OF), around
1 percent under scrub forest and 53 percent under Non Forest areas.
 Forest Cover in Uttarakhand
VERY DENSE 9.2
MODERATELY DENSE 24.9
OPEN 12.42
NON FOREST 53.86
SCRUB 0.72
Source: Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, 2017
In terms of Forest Canopy Density Classes, the state has 4969 sq km under
very dense forest, 12,884 sq km under moderately dense forest and 6442 sq
km under open forest. The Reserved, Protected, and Unclassed Forests are
69.86 percent, 26.01 percent, and 4.13 percent respectively as a proportion of
the recorded forest area.
Tongiyas of Uttarakhand- Tongiya is a caste in Uttarakhand practicing
transhumance. They mainly live im Haridwar district and around Rajaji
National Park. They are known as forest growers and move from one
place to another planting trees and regenerating forests. Recently
government has decided to declare their villages as revenue village.
Page 4


Forest Cover
Out of total area of 53,483 sq.km. of Uttarakhand forest cover over 37799.60
sq.km. As per the FSI’s State of Forest Report 2015, Uttarakhand has a
recorded forest area of 38,000 sq. km species of flora and fauna, many of
which are protected by national parks, sanctuaries and bio-sphere reserves.
As per FSI Uttarakhand forest is classified under the following different
forest types: • Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Tropical Dry deciduous
Forest • Subtropical Pine Forest • Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest •
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Plantation/Trees Outside Forest.
Various types of forest include-
Forest Under Forest Department- this forest is managed by Department
of Forests under the provision of Indian Forest Act. This involves largest area
under forest with Total area involving 25,858.18 sq.km.
Panchayat Forest- thse forest include unique system of Van Panchayats
and total area under this type of forest is 7168.50 sq.km.
Revenue Forest- this type of forests are managed by revenue department
and involves total area of 4768.70 sq.km.
Other Forest- forest cover under other agencies involves total area of
156.44 sq.km.
Deemed Forests- Recently this category of forests has become part of
litigation in the courts as there was no definition of these forests. State govt
has now clarified that all forests categorized in revenue records of the state
will not be considered as forests. Only those areas having area more than 10
Ha and canopy density of more than 60 % will be considered as forests.
Forests with any kind of ownership having more than 10 Ha of area 75% of
vegetation as indigenous variety and canopy density more than 60% will also
be considered as deemed forests.
Issue- Supreme Court in a verdict asked Central Government to clearly
define deemed forests. On that direction the state government framed clear
definition of deemed forests. In this an area less than 10 Ha which has
been registerded as forest on revenue records will no more be considered
forests if the criteria of canopy and indigenous varities is not met. As per
environmentalists this is a conspiracy to destroy forests as no permission
will be required to start any commercial activity such as construction of
resorts if this area is declared as non forests. They also argue that
Uttarakhand has limited forest, with more than 60% canopy. Government,
however argues that, there is complete ban on cutting trees in Himalayan
region above 1000m of elevation and permission has to be still taken for
cutting trees even in private land. Government also says on revenue
record, patwaris have shown forests even on private land which is covered
with trees and bushes. To what extent it is justifiable to make people to
take permission from forest department for starting commercial activities
on their own land.
 
Uttarakhand is very rich in forest cover. As reported by land-use data,
Ministry of Agriculture, forests (3800 thousand hectares) cover about 71.05%
percent of the reported area for land utilization in the state (5992 thousand
hectares). In terms of geographic area, the forest cover was found to be 45.43
percent, compared to the corresponding all-India figure of 21.54 percent.
However, nearly 55 percent of forestland in the state is concentrated in
Uttarkashi, Chamoli, PauriGarhwal and TehriGarhwal. There are 165 forest
settlements in the forestland. Out of these, 70 villages are located in Almora
(24), Nainital (26), and Dehradun (20)5. Around 60 percent of the population
in such villages lives in Nainital and another 28 percent in Udham Singh
Nagar and Haridwar. Thus, forests in areas such as Nainital, Udham Singh
Nagar, and Haridwar are highly stressed and face the threat of degradation.
With a high share of forested area, there is limited scope for expanding the
area under forest cover in Uttarakhand. The percentage change in forest cover
at present is negative. The quality of forest cover is also important, and the
baseline for the total land area covered by dense forests as a share of the total
forest cover is 34 percent. The baseline for afforestation (including all types
of plantations) is 18,251 hectares.
Status of Forests- In Uttarakhand, 9 percent of the geographical area is
under Very Dense Forests (VDF), 24 percent of total forest cover under
Moderate Dense Forests (MDF), 12 percent under Open Forests (OF), around
1 percent under scrub forest and 53 percent under Non Forest areas.
 Forest Cover in Uttarakhand
VERY DENSE 9.2
MODERATELY DENSE 24.9
OPEN 12.42
NON FOREST 53.86
SCRUB 0.72
Source: Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, 2017
In terms of Forest Canopy Density Classes, the state has 4969 sq km under
very dense forest, 12,884 sq km under moderately dense forest and 6442 sq
km under open forest. The Reserved, Protected, and Unclassed Forests are
69.86 percent, 26.01 percent, and 4.13 percent respectively as a proportion of
the recorded forest area.
Tongiyas of Uttarakhand- Tongiya is a caste in Uttarakhand practicing
transhumance. They mainly live im Haridwar district and around Rajaji
National Park. They are known as forest growers and move from one
place to another planting trees and regenerating forests. Recently
government has decided to declare their villages as revenue village.
Source: India State Forest Report, 2017
Celebrating Harela as a Festival of Sappling Plantation
Harela is a famous Kumauni festival, which is celebrated on first day of
Shravan month, usually falling on 15-16 July every year. Since the day
falls during the peak period of monsoonal activity, it could present a good
opportunity for afforestation activities. Considering this fact, the State
government has decided to celebrate Harela as a festival of Sappling
plantation. On this day government agencies, school children, NCC and
NSS cadets, people from non-governmental organizations, Van
Panchayats, Self Help Groups etc. are mobilized in large numbers to
participate in plantation activities. During 2018-19, 4.50 sapplings were
planted at 1126 locations, and during 2019-20 a record 6.25 lakh saplings
were planted at 918 locations. The initiative has been linked with River
Front development and in 2020, large number of trees were planted along
Rispana and Bindal rivers.
Concept of City Forests (Anand Van)- The city forests are being setup
under the central government scheme Nagar Van Yojana announced on 5
th
Page 5


Forest Cover
Out of total area of 53,483 sq.km. of Uttarakhand forest cover over 37799.60
sq.km. As per the FSI’s State of Forest Report 2015, Uttarakhand has a
recorded forest area of 38,000 sq. km species of flora and fauna, many of
which are protected by national parks, sanctuaries and bio-sphere reserves.
As per FSI Uttarakhand forest is classified under the following different
forest types: • Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Tropical Dry deciduous
Forest • Subtropical Pine Forest • Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest •
Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest • Plantation/Trees Outside Forest.
Various types of forest include-
Forest Under Forest Department- this forest is managed by Department
of Forests under the provision of Indian Forest Act. This involves largest area
under forest with Total area involving 25,858.18 sq.km.
Panchayat Forest- thse forest include unique system of Van Panchayats
and total area under this type of forest is 7168.50 sq.km.
Revenue Forest- this type of forests are managed by revenue department
and involves total area of 4768.70 sq.km.
Other Forest- forest cover under other agencies involves total area of
156.44 sq.km.
Deemed Forests- Recently this category of forests has become part of
litigation in the courts as there was no definition of these forests. State govt
has now clarified that all forests categorized in revenue records of the state
will not be considered as forests. Only those areas having area more than 10
Ha and canopy density of more than 60 % will be considered as forests.
Forests with any kind of ownership having more than 10 Ha of area 75% of
vegetation as indigenous variety and canopy density more than 60% will also
be considered as deemed forests.
Issue- Supreme Court in a verdict asked Central Government to clearly
define deemed forests. On that direction the state government framed clear
definition of deemed forests. In this an area less than 10 Ha which has
been registerded as forest on revenue records will no more be considered
forests if the criteria of canopy and indigenous varities is not met. As per
environmentalists this is a conspiracy to destroy forests as no permission
will be required to start any commercial activity such as construction of
resorts if this area is declared as non forests. They also argue that
Uttarakhand has limited forest, with more than 60% canopy. Government,
however argues that, there is complete ban on cutting trees in Himalayan
region above 1000m of elevation and permission has to be still taken for
cutting trees even in private land. Government also says on revenue
record, patwaris have shown forests even on private land which is covered
with trees and bushes. To what extent it is justifiable to make people to
take permission from forest department for starting commercial activities
on their own land.
 
Uttarakhand is very rich in forest cover. As reported by land-use data,
Ministry of Agriculture, forests (3800 thousand hectares) cover about 71.05%
percent of the reported area for land utilization in the state (5992 thousand
hectares). In terms of geographic area, the forest cover was found to be 45.43
percent, compared to the corresponding all-India figure of 21.54 percent.
However, nearly 55 percent of forestland in the state is concentrated in
Uttarkashi, Chamoli, PauriGarhwal and TehriGarhwal. There are 165 forest
settlements in the forestland. Out of these, 70 villages are located in Almora
(24), Nainital (26), and Dehradun (20)5. Around 60 percent of the population
in such villages lives in Nainital and another 28 percent in Udham Singh
Nagar and Haridwar. Thus, forests in areas such as Nainital, Udham Singh
Nagar, and Haridwar are highly stressed and face the threat of degradation.
With a high share of forested area, there is limited scope for expanding the
area under forest cover in Uttarakhand. The percentage change in forest cover
at present is negative. The quality of forest cover is also important, and the
baseline for the total land area covered by dense forests as a share of the total
forest cover is 34 percent. The baseline for afforestation (including all types
of plantations) is 18,251 hectares.
Status of Forests- In Uttarakhand, 9 percent of the geographical area is
under Very Dense Forests (VDF), 24 percent of total forest cover under
Moderate Dense Forests (MDF), 12 percent under Open Forests (OF), around
1 percent under scrub forest and 53 percent under Non Forest areas.
 Forest Cover in Uttarakhand
VERY DENSE 9.2
MODERATELY DENSE 24.9
OPEN 12.42
NON FOREST 53.86
SCRUB 0.72
Source: Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, 2017
In terms of Forest Canopy Density Classes, the state has 4969 sq km under
very dense forest, 12,884 sq km under moderately dense forest and 6442 sq
km under open forest. The Reserved, Protected, and Unclassed Forests are
69.86 percent, 26.01 percent, and 4.13 percent respectively as a proportion of
the recorded forest area.
Tongiyas of Uttarakhand- Tongiya is a caste in Uttarakhand practicing
transhumance. They mainly live im Haridwar district and around Rajaji
National Park. They are known as forest growers and move from one
place to another planting trees and regenerating forests. Recently
government has decided to declare their villages as revenue village.
Source: India State Forest Report, 2017
Celebrating Harela as a Festival of Sappling Plantation
Harela is a famous Kumauni festival, which is celebrated on first day of
Shravan month, usually falling on 15-16 July every year. Since the day
falls during the peak period of monsoonal activity, it could present a good
opportunity for afforestation activities. Considering this fact, the State
government has decided to celebrate Harela as a festival of Sappling
plantation. On this day government agencies, school children, NCC and
NSS cadets, people from non-governmental organizations, Van
Panchayats, Self Help Groups etc. are mobilized in large numbers to
participate in plantation activities. During 2018-19, 4.50 sapplings were
planted at 1126 locations, and during 2019-20 a record 6.25 lakh saplings
were planted at 918 locations. The initiative has been linked with River
Front development and in 2020, large number of trees were planted along
Rispana and Bindal rivers.
Concept of City Forests (Anand Van)- The city forests are being setup
under the central government scheme Nagar Van Yojana announced on 5
th
June 2020. Five Nagar Nigams and Nagar Palikas of the State including
Dehradun, Haldwani have been identifies under the scheme for setting up
Anand Vans. The forest will cover 10 Ha areas each.
School Nursery Yojana- A central scheme under which 100 schools of
the state have been selected where the school nurseries will be setup.
 
It is important to improve the quality of the forest cover, that is, to turn some
part of the moderately dense forest (accounting for 24 percent of the total
forest cover) into dense forest, and some part of the open forest (accounting
for 12 percent of the total forest cover) into moderately dense forest. The
district wise forest cover is given in above table.
Forests are also a source of income for those dwelling in and around the
forests. Besides timber, there are many valuable non-timber forest products
(NTFP), such as nuts (walnuts, pine nuts), medicinal herbs, and plants,
bamboo shoots, and high-value mushrooms. The major resources relating to
forest areas are briefly listed below.
FOREST BASED INDUSTRIES IN UTTARAKHAND
a. Timber production: Plantations are raised on the plains for commercial
use. These include varieties like teak, sal, eucalyptus, poplar etc.
Coniferous trees like Deodar grown on the hills also provide timber. In
2016-17, the state had a production of 184149 cu. m round of timber, and
54578 cu. m. stack of firewood.
* No green or commercial felling is being carried out in the State in areas
which are more than 1000 metres above msl.
* Only uprooted, wind-fallen, dry, dead, dying, diseased trees are removed.
* First preference is given to meet the demand of local people through their
recorded rights, concessions and petty demands.
* Timber in excess of such demands is extracted through Uttarakhand Forest
Development Corporation (UAFDC)
b. Plantation:
To bring uniformity in plantation activities, Plantation Policy has been
formulated and issued in 2005. Main features of the Policy are as under:
* ‹Land Banks are to be formed at the district level as per the classification of