Forest Cover - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

1)   Forest cover has decreased in which state according to the FSI?

a. HP
b. UP
c. Uttarakhand
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Uttarakhand

Explanation:
According to a report submitted by Forest Survey of India, forest cover of Uttarakhand has lowered by 268 sq km in past two years having total area of 24,240 sq km currently. Main reason for this fall in forest cover has been described as rotational felling and diversion of forest land for development activities in the report. FSI has reported only 12 states presently and the total states will be covered by the next survey. The state of Uttarakhand has total geographical area of 53,483 sq km from which 34561 is recorded forest area.


2)   Mangrove cover in Maharashtra has risen by what percentage since 2013, according to the Forest Survey of India?

a. 20
b. 30
c. 40
d. 50
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 20

Explanation:
Biennial survey conducted by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun has found that the mangrove cover in the state, which remained static at 186 sq km between 2005 and 2013 has reached 222 sq km. This is the biggest rise in mangrove cover recorded by any Indian state in the 2 year period from 2013 to 2015.


3)   Forest cover in which state(s) have shown an increase in the last two years, according to Forest Survey of India?

a. TN
b. WB
c. Kerala
d. Both a and c
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
Forest cover in UP has shown a marginal rise within the past two years, as per latest report of Forest Survey of India. Report indicated that India’s forest cover rose by 3775 square km since 2013 taking the total to 701,673 sq km equalling 70.17 mha or 21.34% of the nation’s geographical area. Increased forest cover was observed in the following states : Kerala, TN, J&K and Karnataka. As against 2013, there has been a rise of 572 sq km in dense forest area and 30 sq km in open forest in the current year, while the area of moderately dense forest fell by 490 sq km. UP also entered the Guinness Book of World Records for planting the highest number of saplings in a single day.


4)   India will attain a larger green cover as per which report according to environment minister Prakash Javdekar?

a. India State of Forest Report 2015
b. India Forest Report 2015
c. Indian Forestry Report 2015
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: India State of Forest Report 2015

Explanation:
India will attain larger green cover and more potential for carbon absorption as part of the INDC or Intended Nationally Determined Contributions as the India State of Forest Report 2015 was released. As per the INDC, India has committed the creation of additional carbon sink for 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equal to 2030 through a planned afforestation drive. In INDC, a target of 250 crore tonnes of carbon sink will be created.


5)   As per the recently released India State of Forest Report-2013, what is the total forest cover in India?

a. 39.12%
b. 41.53%
c. 14.54%
d. 21.23%
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 21.23%

Explanation:
There is a net increase of 5871 square kilometers in the forest cover of the country as compared with India State of Forest Report – 2011. As per India State of Forest Report – 2013, the total forest cover in the country is 697,898 square kilometers which is 21.23% of the total geographical area of the country.