Sikkim forest cover shows marginal decrease. As per a State of Forest report 2021, the forest cover of Sikkim has seen a marginal decrease, which the Forest department attributed largely to developmental projects like roads and power projects.
The present forest cover of Sikkim is 47.08% as per the 2021 report and shows decrease in forest cover by 1.46 sqkm which may be attributed to natural calamities, felling of trees and developmental activities, as per the Forest department.
Sikkim Damage Due to Power Projects
Speaking to media on Wednesday, additional chief secretary-cum-PCCF (Forests) M.L. Srivastava said the marginal decrease in forest cover were largely due to diversion of forest land for important activities related to national security, road constructions and power projects.
“Certain strategic and defence requirements are to be met for which diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes is needed. We take approval from all the statutory bodies like National Board for Wildlife before undertaking such projects and also do compensatory afforestation,” he said.
In the past 25 years, the forest cover of the state had increased by 4%.
It was shared that as per the 2021 State of Forest report, the Tree outside Forest (ToF) cover in Sikkim has increased by 3 sq km.
There has been an enhancement in trees in private holdings which is an interesting feature and shows people’s participation, said Srivastava.
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