Our forest wealth
The Shivalik hills are characterized by tropical dry deciduous forest. Valuable timber species have been virtually extirpated. As per the FSI Report 2003, Panchkula has a forest cover of 40.53%, Ambala 2.22% and Yamunanagar 11.31%. While Panchkula recorded substantial increase (42%) in forest cover in 2003 from 2001, the other two districts have shown a decline of 13% and 24%.
The total area under forests in the State of Haryana is 155,800 hectares which constitutes 3.3% of the total geographical area. Since 1991 the area under forest has come down by approximately 0.32% from 170,200 ha to 155,800 ha. As per the National Forest Policy, any region requires 33% of the area under forest for sound ecological balance.
Table 2.10: State and private forest cover in sq km
State Forest | Private Forest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Reserved | Protected | Unclassed | Closed under Forest Act | Closed Under Land Preservation Act | Total |
Haryana state | 249 | 1158 | 17 | 10 | 124 | 1558 |
Ambala | 2 | 35 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 46 |
Panchkula | 86 | 253 | < 1 | - | 43 | 382 |
Yamunanagar | 69 | 131 | 4 | - | 14 | 218 |