Forest Cover of India

• 34 Percent geographical area under forest cover till 2015
• The total forested area in India is about 63.73 million hectares.
• In the last 10 years, forest cover in the country has increased by 3.31 million hectares, showing an average 0.46% increase every year.

Problems of Forestry

Over grazingForest FireReckless Cutting of TreesJhum CultivationGovernment Initiatives

• Reserve & Protected forests
• Van Mahotsav Programme → Thousands of trees are planted every year in the months of July and August
• Forest Research Institute at Dehradun →For promotion and preservation the forests properly
• National Forest policy

National Forest Policy, 1988

• Conservation of Biodiversity, Afforestation & Check of soil erosion
• 33 % Geographical area shall be forest covered
• Develop Social Forestry → (Agro Forestry, Community Forestry & Forestry by officials)

Social Forestry

• Mainly to reduce pressure on traditional forests by planting trees esp. for fuel wood, Timber & other social supplies
• Help in checking water and wind erosion by acting as shelter belts
• Employment & additional income generation
• Agro ForestryPlanting trees & agricultural crops together on farms for food, fuel, fodder, timber & fruits
• Forestry + Agriculture
• Trees bind soil and acts as shelter belts thus check soil erosion
• Deep roots of trees trap new nutrients and bring them close to the surface
• Leguminous trees fix atmospheric nitrogen, thus improves fertility of the soil
• Soil nutrient increases due to addition and deposition of leaf litter 
• Community ForestryTrees Planted by community in their respected colonies 
• Forestry by officialsTrees planted by forest departments to cater needs of community esp. along Roads, canals, Railways etc.