Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
This distinction is critical for accurately assessing India's greening efforts, understanding the ecological health of forests, and evaluating the effectiveness of afforestation policies. Misinterpretation can lead to an inflated sense of environmental progress, relevant for GS3 (Environment, Conservation).
In environmental reporting, particularly in India, a crucial distinction is made between 'forest cover' and 'tree cover'. 'Forest cover' refers to all lands with more than one hectare area and a tree canopy density of 10 percent or more, irrespective of land ownership and legal status, as assessed by remote sensing. 'Tree cover' includes tree patches outside recorded forest areas and also scattered trees.