FIRST DIGITAL ASSESSMENT OF FOREST
COVER IN THE COUNTRY
The Forest cover
of the country has been assessed for the first time using digital
technology. Giving details of the State Forest Report-2001 to
the Members of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry
of Environment and Forests here yesterday, the Environment and
Forests Minister, Shri T.R. Baalu said that for the first time
lines Imaging Self Scanning III data of Indian Remote Sensing
Satellite (IRS) IC and ID was used for the purpose. He also informed
the members that for the first time tree cover below one hectare,
which cannot be assessed through satellite data, has been ascertained
by using field inventory methods. The result has shown that 2.48
per cent of the geographical area is under tree cover.
Shri Baalu informed
the members that the National Forest Policy aims at having a minimum
of one third of geographical area under the tree and forest cover.
He urged upon the state governments to utilize central assistance
to focus on the consolidation of Forest boundaries so that the
increase in forest cover is not reversed in the next assessment.
He informed the members that with this end in view, the states
have been advised to hasten the settlement of forests and improve
the status of degrade forests.
The Minister also
outlined other important milestones achieved since the last meeting
of the Consultative Committee. These include the passage in Parliament
of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess (Amendment)
Bill to augment the resources of Centre and State Pollution Control
Boards and the notification on Matheran in Maharashtra as Eco-sensitive
zone.
The Minister told
the members that during the Tenth Five Year Plan extensive assessment
of forest resources inside and outside the forests have been planned
at the national level. He said that during the field inventory
enrichment of the data will be provided to assess regeneration
status, biodiversity indices and soil carbon.
The following members
attended the meeting Shri Raj Babbar, Mrs. D.M. Vijay Kumari,
Shri Anant M Gudhe, Shri Ranganath Mishra, Shri H.K. Javeri Gowda
and Shri Amarsinh Vassntrao Patil.
