Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu met with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav to discuss the discrepancy in the state’s tree cover percentage. The actual tree cover stands at 29.5%, higher than the officially recorded 27.99%, mainly due to trees outside the forest not being included in the calculations.
Sukhu highlighted that the state regulates harvesting on private lands differently, a practice not acknowledged in official figures. He stressed the importance of recognizing this 1.5% component to truly reflect the state’s ecological and forestry contributions. Trees outside the forest play a crucial role in maintaining green cover and preserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to consider the 29.5% forest and tree cover for all forest-related calculations and allocations from the Central government. He emphasized the need to acknowledge the 1.5% of trees outside the forest as a significant contribution to ecosystem services and environmental conservation efforts.
