Forest cover in India has increased, yet forest quality is under question. Critically examine the findings of ISFR 2023.

The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 puts India's forest and tree cover at 8,27,357 sq km (25.17%) of the country's geographical area [1]. The headline shows a gain, but the details show forest quality lagging behind the growth in area.

What ISFR 2023 shows

• Net gain: forest and tree cover together rose by 1,445 sq km since ISFR 2021 [1].
• Climate progress: India has created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes CO2-equivalent since 2005. Its NDC target is 2.5–3 billion tonnes [1].

Why quality is questioned

• Most of the gain is outside forests: tree cover grew by 1,289 sq km, but forest cover grew by only 156 sq km [1].
• It counts canopy, not ecosystems: ISFR counts any patch over 1 ha with more than 10% canopy as forest cover, whatever its ownership or land use [2]. FAO's FRA 2025 definition leaves out fruit orchards and agroforestry systems [3]. So rubber, areca or mango stands raise India's figure without restoring biodiversity.
• Density is falling: ISFR's own change data show dense forest inside recorded forest areas thinning into open forest and scrub [2]. Recorded area can rise while forests degrade.
• Weak compensation: CAG audits of compensatory afforestation (2013) and of CAMPA in Uttarakhand (2024) found shortfalls and lapses [4][5]. Natural forest diverted to projects is not truly replaced.
• Net figures can mislead: globally, gross deforestation of 10.9 Mha/yr shrinks to a net loss of 4.12 Mha/yr once new forest is added [6].

Assessment The official figure is accurate for what it measures: canopy, which does absorb carbon [1]. But plantations are cut in harvest cycles and support little wildlife. India is therefore gaining trees while its natural forests may be thinning.

ISFR 2023 shows a greener map but thinner forests. The Forest Survey of India should report natural forest, plantations and orchards separately. CAMPA should plant native species and track whether saplings survive. Canopy density should become a target alongside area. Measuring quality as well as area will make India's NDC and SDG 15 gains real.