Panaji: Over just two years from 2021 to 2023, Goa’s total forest cover came down by 1.50sqkm or 150ha, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 released by the
Union environment ministry
on Friday. Goa’s total forest cover now stands at 2,265.7sqkm.
The loss of forest cover was higher in North Goa at 90ha, besides a loss of 60ha of forest cover in South Goa. The drop in forest cover has been calculated in comparison to the findings of the ISFR report 2021.
As per the report, however, Goa’s total mangrove cover was up by around 2sqkm since 2021 and now stood at 29.12sqkm in 2023.
The 2023 report also finds that Goa has 1,041.8sqkm of its forest outside recorded forest areas, possibly calling for measures to safeguard this forest cover.
Of the state’s total forest cover of 2,265.7sqkm, the report states that the highest percentage of 30.3% or 1,120.8sqkm is open forest. Another 589.4sqkm or 15.9% forest is moderately dense forest (MDF). However, the state also has 555.4sqkm or 15% of very dense forest (VDF).
As per the report, a majority of Goa’s forest cover at 41.2% comprises southern moist mixed deciduous forest type, while 21.8% comprises west coast tropical evergreen forest and 21% west coast semi-evergreen forest, which are very rich forests with thriving biodiversity and endemic life.
The report shows that 14.7% of Goa’s green cover comprises various types of plantations.
The ISFR is brought out by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) every two years. The report carries out an in-depth assessment of the forest and tree resources state-wise based on interpretation of remote sensing satellite data and field-based
National Forest Inventory
(NFI).
The 2023 report shows that the forest fires that raged through Goa’s forests in 2022-2023 have significantly reduced. The report shows that forest fires detected went down from 147 in 2022-23 to 36 in 2023-24.
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