Hey there, folks! If you’re a nature lover living in Maharashtra, you might want to sit down for this news. The latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 has some eye-opening revelations about the state’s green cover.
Pune, our beloved city, has unfortunately lost a significant 4.57 square kilometers of forest area between 2021 and 2023. Mumbai also saw a slight decrease of 0.16 square kilometers, but its suburbs managed to buck the trend by gaining 1.42 square kilometers of forest cover.
Nashik and Ahmednagar seem to be doing something right, with impressive gains of 25 and 26.48 square kilometers, respectively. On the flip side, Kolhapur and Gadchiroli experienced losses of 21.1 and 20 square kilometers, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Thane and Ratnagiri, known for their ecological significance, have managed to maintain stable forest covers at 1,432 and 4,292 square kilometers, respectively. However, Maharashtra as a whole falls short of the ideal target of 33% forest cover, with only 16.53% of its geographical expanse covered by forests.
Forest fires have also been a cause for concern in the state, with a total of 16,008 incidents recorded from November 2023 to June 2024. Gadchiroli district, in particular, reported the highest number of forest fire incidents in the country at 7,042 during this period.
While the number of forest fires has shown a slight decline compared to previous years, environmental experts are urging the state to ramp up efforts to protect its green cover. Stricter regulations and proactive measures are needed to ensure the preservation of Maharashtra’s forests for future generations.
So, let’s all do our part in conserving nature and protecting our forests for a greener, healthier tomorrow!
Thanks For Reading Report of Punepress.com