A6 FOREST COVER IN TRIBAL DISTRICTS

 

 

Forests have played a key role in the tribal economy and have been a source of subsistence and livelihood to them. It is a common belief that the tribals have lived in harmony with nature and customarily protected forests for their well being. Thus, the assessment of forest cover in tribal districts acquires a special significance .

 

The tribals, constituting 8% of total population, are distributed all over the country. There are 149 tribal districts as identified under Tribal Sub-Plan of GOI. Forest cover information of only 137 districts has been furnished in Table 6.1 as the district boundaries of Dumka, Gumla, Lohardaga and Sahibganj in Bihar; Coorg in Karnataka; Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu and Bardhman, Birbhum, Hoogli, Maldah, Medinipur, Murshidabad, 24-Parganas and West Dinajpur in West Bengal are not available from SOI. At places district information has been clubbed. The changes in forest cover during the past three cycles is given in Table 6.1.

 

 

 

Table A6.1 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Andhra Pradesh from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change

compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

Andhra Pradesh

 

         

Adilabad

6,496

6,422

-74

6,202

-220

-294

Godavari East

3,626

3,591

-35

3,508

-83

-118

Godavari West

846

861

+15

883

+22

+37

Khammam

7,282

7,271

-11

7,310

+39

+28

Srikakulam

Visakhapatnam

Vizianagaram

 

7,491

 

7,477

 

-14

 

4,459

 

-3018

 

-3032

Warangal

3,467

3,454

- 13

3,259

- 195

- 208

Total

29,208

29,076

-132

25,621

-3455

-3587

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table A6.2 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Arunachal Pradesh from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Arunachal Pradesh

           

Dibang Valley

Kameng East

Kameng West

Lohit

Siang East

Siang West

Subansiri Upper

Subansiri Lower

Tirap

 

 

 

 

68,661

 

 

 

 

68,621

 

 

 

 

-40

 

 

 

 

68,602

 

 

 

 

-19

 

 

 

 

-59

Total

68,661

68,621

-40

68,602

-19

-59

 

 

Table A6.3 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Assam from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Assam

           

Cachar

Darrang

Goalpara

Kamrup

Karbi Anglong

Nowgong

North Cachar

 

 

 

22,140

 

 

 

 

 

21,756

 

 

 

-384

 

 

 

21,560

 

 

 

-196

 

 

 

-580

Dibrugarh

1,244

1,250

+6

1,218

-32

-26

Lakhimpur

359

356

-3

359

+3

Nil

Sibsagar

765

699

-66

687

-12

-78

Total

24,508

24,061

-447

23,824

-237

-684

 

 

 

Table A6.4 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Bihar from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Bihar

           

Palamu

4,833

4,811

-22

4,803

-8

-30

Ranchi

4,539

4,517

-22

4,511

-6

-28

Singhbhum

4,599

4,602

+3

4,558

-44

-41

Total

13,971

13,930

-41

13,872

-58

-99

 

 

 

 

Table A6.5 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Gujarat from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Gujarat

           

Banaskantha

747

747

Nil

746

-1

-1

Bharuch

1,250

1,242

-8

1,226

-16

-24

Panchmahals

1,033

1,023

-10

1,009

-14

-24

Sabarkantha

676

676

Nil

675

-1

-1

Surat

1,308

1,295

-13

1,295

Nil

-13

The Dangs

1,510

1,510

Nil

1,508

-2

-2

Vadodara

504

504

Nil

499

-5

-5

Valsad

1,278

1,273

-5

1,272

-1

-6

Total

8,306

8,270

-36

8,230

-40

-76

 

 

 

Table A6.6 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Himachal Pradesh from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Himachal Pradesh

           

Chamba

2,124

2,060

-64

2,061

+1

-63

Kinnaur

629

629

Nil

632

+3

+3

Lahaul & Spiti

19

83

+64

83

Nil

+64

Total

2,772

2,772

Nil

2,776

+4

+4

 

 

Table A6.7 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Karnataka from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Karnataka

           

Chikmaglur

3,324

3,329

+5

3,327

-2

+3

Mysore

3,460

3,461

+1

3,462

+1

+2

South Kannada

3,640

3,645

+5

3,656

+11

+16

Total

10,424

10,435

+11

10,445

+10

+21

 

 

Table A6.8 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Kerala from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Kerala

           

Ernakulam

272

272

Nil

272

Nil

Nil

Idukki

2,536

2,536

Nil

2,536

Nil

Nil

Malappuram

827

827

Nil

827

Nil

Nil

Palghat

1,373

1,373

Nil

1,373

Nil

Nil

Quilon

2,265

2,265

Nil

2,263

-2

-2

Trivandrum

394

394

Nil

394

Nil

Nil

Wyanad

Kozhikode

Cannanore

 

1,701

 

1,701

 

Nil

 

1,701

 

Nil

 

Nil

Total

9,368

9,368

Nil

9,366

-2

-2

 

 

 

Table A6.9 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Madhya Pradesh from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Madhya Pradesh

           

Balaghat

4,918

4,919

+1

4,770

-149

-148

Bastar

22,394

22,387

-7

23,138

+751

+744

Betul

3,560

3,560

Nil

3,599

+39

+39

Bilaspur

6,939

6,922

-17

6,407

-515

-53

Chhindwara

4,420

4,409

-11

4,674

+265

+254

Dewas

1,827

1,806

-21

1,638

-168

-189

Dhar

563

564

+1

634

+70

+71

Durg

722

719

-3

716

-3

-6

Hoshangabad

3,350

3,357

+7

3,288

-69

-62

Jabalpur

2,132

2,140

+8

2,003

-137

-129

Jhabua

1,054

1,044

-10

823

-221

-231

Khandwa(E. Nimar)

4,126

4,103

-23

3,408

-695

-718

Khargone(W.Nimar)

2,936

2,906

-30

2,018

-888

-918

Mandla

5,363

5,362

-1

5,720

+358

+357

Morena

4,595

4,653

+58

4,403

-250

-192

Raigarh

4,488

4,476

-12

4,630

+154

142

Rajnandgaon

3,981

3,978

-3

3,762

-216

-219

Ratlam

255

255

Nil

164

-91

-91

Seoni

2,992

2,974

-18

3,171

+197

+179

Shahdol

4,386

4,386

Nil

4,177

-209

-209

Sidhi

3,915

3,897

-18

4,023

+126

+108

Surguja

12,106

12,078

-28

11,543

-535

-563

Total

101,022

100,895

-127

98,709

-2186

-2313

 

 

 

 

Table A6.10 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Maharashtra from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Maharashtra

           

Ahmednagar

132

131

-1

169

+38

+37

Amravati

2,819

2,819

Nil

3,287

+468

+468

Chandrapur

13,936

13,933

-3

14,110

+177

+174

Dhule

2,490

2,477

-13

1,971

-506

-519

Jalgaon

1,125

1,125

Nil

1,359

+234

+234

Nanded

911

911

Nil

869

-42

-42

Nasik

938

950

+12

1,009

+59

+71

Pune

779

780

+1

1,271

+491

+492

Thane

2,407

2,410

+3

2,543

+133

+136

Yavatmal

2,235

2,233

-2

2,580

+347

+345

Total

27,772

27,769

-3

29,168

+1399

+1396

 

 

 

 

Table A6.11 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Manipur from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Manipur

           

Manipur Central &

Tengnon Pal

Manipur East

 

7,216

 

7,186

 

-30

 

7,440

 

+254

 

+224

Manipur North

2,354

2,352

-2

2,259

-93

-95

Manipur South

4,030

3,997

-33

3,835

-162

-195

Manipur West

4,021

4,023

+2

3,884

-139

-137

Total

17,621

17,558

-63

17,418

-140

-203

 

 

 

Table A6.12 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Meghalaya from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Meghalaya

           

Garo Hills East

Garo Hills West

Khasi Hills East

Khasi Hills West

Jaintia Hills

 

 

15,769

 

 

15,714

 

 

-55

 

 

15,657

 

 

-57

 

 

-112

Total

15,769

15,714

-55

15,657

-57

-112

 

 

 

Table A6.13 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Mizoram from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Mizoram

           

Aizawl

Chhimtuipui

Lunglei

 

18,697

 

18,576

 

-121

 

18,775

 

+199

 

+78

Total

18,697

18,576

-121

18,775

+199

+78

 

 

Table A6.14 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Nagaland from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Nagaland

           

Kohima

3,329

3,316

-13

3,295

-21

-34

Mon

1,603

1,603

Nil

1,599

-4

-4

Mokokchung

1,416

1,406

-10

1,405

-1

-11

Phek

1,804

1,797

-7

1,779

-18

-25

Tuensang

3,618

3,602

-16

3,598

-4

-20

Wokha

1,486

1,477

-9

1,473

-4

-13

Zunheboto

1,092

1,090

-2

1,072

-18

-20

Total

14,348

14,291

-57

14,221

-70

-127

Table A6.15 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Orissa from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Orissa

           

Balasore

306

306

Nil

306

Nil

Nil

Ganjam

2,156

2,164

+8

2,160

-4

+4

Kalahandi

1,924

1,924

Nil

1,919

-5

-5

Keonjhar

3,730

3,691

-39

3,543

-148

-187

Koraput

1,396

1,395

-1

1,344

-51

-52

Mayurbhanj

4,062

4,058

-4

3,852

-206

-210

Sambalpur

3,192

3,180

-12

3,172

-8

-20

Phulbani

4,981

4,989

+8

5,117

+128

+136

Sundergarh

4,013

4,013

Nil

4,011

-2

-2

Total

25,760

25,720

-40

25,424

-296

-336

 

Table A6.16 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Rajasthan from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Rajasthan

           

Banaswara

330

346

+16

348

+2

+18

Chittaurgarh

1,547

1,559

+12

1,562

+3

+15

Dungarpur

211

216

+5

218

+2

+7

Sirohi

749

772

+23

773

+1

+24

Udaipur

3,228

3,247

+19

3,248

+1

+20

Total

6,065

6,140

+75

6,149

+9

+84

 

 

Table A6.17 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Sikkim from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Sikkim

           

Sikkim North

Sikkim South

Sikkim East

Sikkim West

 

3,119

 

3,127

 

+8

 

3,129

 

+2

 

+10

Total

3,119

3,127

+8

3,129

+2

+10

Table A6.18 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Tamil Nadu from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Tamil Nadu

           

Arcot North

2,035

2,256

+221

2,256

Nil

+221

Arcot South

1,210

996

- 214

998

+2

-212

Dharmapuri

2,266

2,266

Nil

2,260

-6

-6

Salem

1,304

1,294

-10

1,295

+1

-9

Total

6,815

6,812

-3

6,809

-3

-6

 

 

 

Table A6.19 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Tripura from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Tripura

           

North Tripura

South Tripura

West Tripura

 

5,538

 

5,538

 

Nil

 

5,546

 

+8

 

+8

Total

5,538

5,538

Nil

5,546

+8

+8

 

 

 

Table A6.20 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Uttar Pradesh from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Uttar Pradesh

           

Lakhimpur Kheri

1,313

1,310

-3

1,310

Nil

-3

Total

1,313

1,310

-3

1,310

Nil

-3

 

 

Table A6.21 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of West Bengal from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

West Bengal

           

Bankura

820

850

+30

867

+17

+47

Darjeeling

1,455

1,448

-7

1,455

+7

Nil

Jalpaiguri

1,571

1,578

+7

1,580

+2

+9

Puruliya

583

598

+15

607

+9

+24

Total

4,429

4,474

+45

4,509

+35

+80

 

 

 

 

Table A6.22 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

           

Andaman & Nicobar

7,624

7,615

-9

7,613

-2

-11

Total

7,624

7,615

-9

7,613

-2

-11

 

 

 

 

Table A6.23 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of Daman & Diu from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

 

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

 

Daman & Diu

           

Daman

1

1

Nil

1

Nil

Nil

Total

1

1

Nil

1

Nil

Nil

 

 

Table A6.24 Forest Cover in Tribal Districts of India from 1993 to 1997 Assessments. (Sq.km.)

State/UT

District

1993 assessment

1995 assessment

1997 assessment

Total

Change

 

Forest cover

Forest cover

Change compared to 1993

Forest cover

Change compared to 1995

between

1993 to 1997

Andhra Pradesh

29,208

29,076

-132

25,621

-3455

-3587

Arunachal Pradesh

68,661

68,621

-40

68,602

-19

-59

Assam

24,508

24,061

-447

23,824

-237

-684

Bihar

13,971

13,930

-41

13,872

-58

-99

Gujarat

8,306

8,270

-36

8,230

-40

-76

Himachal Pradesh

2,772

2,772

Nil

2,776

+4

+4

Karnataka

10,424

10,435

+11

10,445

+10

+21

Kerala

9,368

9,368

Nil

9,366

-2

-2

Madhya Pradesh

101,022

100,895

-127

98,709

-2186

-2313

Maharashtra

27,772

27,769

-3

29,168

+1399

+1396

Manipur

17,621

17,558

-63

17,418

-140

-203

Meghalaya

15,769

15,714

-55

15,657

-57

-112

Mizoram

18,697

18,576

-121

18,775

+199

+78

Nagaland

14,348

14,291

-57

14,221

-70

-127

Orissa

25,760

25,720

-40

25,424

-296

-336

Rajasthan

6,065

6,140

+75

6,149

+9

+84

Sikkim

3,119

3,127

+8

3,129

+2

+10

Tamil Nadu

6,815

6,812

-3

6,809

-3

-6

Tripura

5,538

5,538

Nil

5,546

+8

+8

Uttar Pradesh

1,313

1,310

-3

1,310

Nil

-3

West Bengal

4,429

4,474

+45

4,509

+35

+80

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

7,624

7,615

-9

7,613

-2

-11

Daman & Diu

1

1

Nil

1

Nil

Nil

Grand Total

423,111

422,073

-1,038

417,174

-4,899

-5,937