Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Forest Minister Vishwjit Rane said that the forest cover of Goa has been increased by 7Sq kms when compared to India State Forest Report, 2019.
“As per ISFR -2021, the Forest cover of Goa has been recorded as 2244 Sq. Km. Forest cover in Goa has actually increased by 7 Sq. Km. when compared to India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2019,” said Rane.
He further said that Forest Survey of India (FSI) on behalf of Government of India, has been mandated to undertake exercise for assessment of Forest Cover in India on two years cycle and publish India State of Forest Report (ISFR).
“No community forestry programme has been undertaken. However, on notified forest areas, Re-afforestation and densification of degraded areas are carried out as per prescriptions of approved Working Plans,” he said.
Rane further said, to give a boost to Tree outside Forest, as per lands made available by other organizations/agencies/Panchayats/Pvt. entities, etc. plantation activities are carried out during Van Mahotsava and other important celebratory days.
“Public distribution of free of cost saplings is followed by the Department for fairly substantial number of days during rainy seasons,” he added.
