State’s 1st tree census to be complete in 15 days, mapping to start by April

Gurgaon: Groundwork for the first tree census in the state will be completed in 15 days and the comprehensive report mapping the greenery-stressed state’s tree wealth is expected by April. A first in the state, the census will record different species of trees and their health status and is being carried out for ‘trees outside of forest’ (TOF) areas. Compared to 2019, there was a decline of 140 sq km in tree cover in the state in the last Forest Survey of India (FSI) report in 2021.
According to forest department officials, TOF refers to tree resources found outside forests defined in government records. The extent of TOF in Haryana is 2,645 sq km as per the FSI report, of which the tree cover is 1,425 sq km. Tree cover, different from forests, refers to tree patches that are less than 1 hectare in size and are outside the areas marked as forests.
Compared to 2019, there is a decline of 140 sq km in tree cover in the state. According to the FSI report, TOF is among the important renewable resources that contribute to climate change mitigation, as every patch of forest around the world absorbs carbon.
The census will help create a data inventory of each species, their population and the hazards they face and find ways to ensure their protection, officials said.
A senior forest official said they have collected 95% of the field data and the rest will be complete in the next 15 days. “We have already initiated work on compiling and sorting the data. As it is huge, we will need two months to release a report. This will give us a clear picture of forests outside the reserved forest category,” the official said.
Over 250 people, including surveyors, taxonomists and technical staff, have been working for nearly six months to complete the project at an approximate cost of Rs 1 crore.
“Teams have manually recorded trunk girth and species. They have physically visited areas across the state and marked each tree. We will also put the data on the GIS platform. The data will help restore lost green cover and calculate the carbon sink capacity,” said Vinod Kumar, additional principal chief conservator of forests, Haryana.
The data will also throw light on traditional and local knowledge of flora and fauna. The other focus would be on conserving grassland ecosystems in southern parts of Haryana and recording the many endangered and rare species of plants that grow in the Aravalis.
Environmentalists have appreciated the move, pointing out that it will help save trees from encroachment and felling. They have demanded the formulation of a Tree Act.
“Haryana needs a Tree Act to protect the trees outside of forest conservation areas,” said Vivek Kamboj, a city-based environmentalist.