There is just a marginal, that too temporary, decrease in the state’s forest cover in the last two years. Significantly, there is no reduction in the dense forest cover. This was revealed in the India State of the Forest Report 2011.

“There is a loss of forest cover to the extent of 24 sq km as compared to previous assessment,” the report stated.

The report says the decrease is primarily due to rotational felling of eucalyptus, teak, acacia, mangium, rubber and shade-bearing trees in gardens, a loss which is only temporary.

However, former forest minister and CPI leader, Mr Binoy Viswam, said the report was “confusing”.
“Trees outside forest cannot be considered as forest trees. If so, then the report would cause as major confusion as the assessment of different canopy density may vary due to rotational tree felling,” Mr Viswam said.

The biggest loss in forest cover has taken place in Kollam district, an area known for its rubber plantations.

The forest cover in the state, based on the interpretation of satellite data, is 17,300 sq km, which is 44.52 percent of the total geographical area.

The state has 1442 sq km under very dense forest, 9349 sq km under moderately dense forest and 6464 sq km under open forest.

As per the present assessment, the forest and tree cover of the country is 78.29 million hectares, which is 23.81 percent of the geographical area of the country.

In comparison to the 2009 assessment, after taking into account the interpretational changes, there is a decrease of 367 square km in the country's forest cover.

In all, 15 states have registered an aggregate increase of 5,000 sq km in their forest cover, with Punjab leading with an increase of 100 sq km. As many as 12 states/UTs (mainly the NE
states) have shown a decrease to the extent of 867sq km.