Significant Increase in Forest Cover Density in Bastar Region

450 sq km of Open Forest Transformed into Dense Forest

Raipur : The Bastar region has recorded a remarkable increase in forest cover density, as reflected in the latest India State of Forest Report. This achievement is the result of continuous efforts by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and the guidance of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap. The rise in forest cover density is a testament to Chhattisgarh’s environmental conservation policies and sustainable forest management. This increase will play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, ecological balance, and climate improvement.

Bastar, known for its dense forests, has been a key focus area for forest conservation and enhancement. According to satellite-based LISS-III sensor data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, several areas in Bastar have shown significant improvement in forest cover classification.

As per the ISFR report:

• 152 sq km of forest area has transformed from Moderately Dense Forest to Very Dense Forest.
• 93 sq km of land has changed from Non-Forest to Open Forest.
• 156 sq km has improved from Open Forest to Moderately Dense Forest.
• 19 sq km has been upgraded from Open Forest to Dense Forest, and 18 sq km from Shrubs to Open Forest.

The Indravati National Park has also recorded positive changes, with 23 sq km converting from Moderately Dense Forest to Very Dense Forest, and 16 sq km from Open Forest to Moderately Dense Forest. The Bijapur Forest Division has seen the highest increase, with 68 sq km transitioning from Open Forest to Moderately Dense Forest and 56 sq km from Moderately Dense Forest to Very Dense Forest.

Chief Principal Conservator of Forests and Head of the Forest Force, Shri V. Srinivas Rao, credited this significant increase to the scientific and proactive efforts of the Forest Department. He emphasized that community participation and strategic conservation measures have strengthened Bastar’s green landscape.

The improvement in forest density has been made possible through continuous monitoring, water and soil conservation, removal of invasive weeds, fire prevention strategies, and community-led afforestation campaigns. The participation of Joint Forest Management Committees and tribal communities in Bastar has also played a vital role in this success.