Udumula Sudhakar reddy
Green cover is dwindling fast in the State and Hyderabad is the
worst hit when compared to other cities. Data released by Forest Survey of India and AP
Forest department revealed that alarmingly the tree cover over the size of Vijayawada
city has vanished in the state in a year. Around 45.34 square kilometres area of forests
vanished due to encroachments in the State and environmentalists say the area needs an
urgent attention. According to Forest Survey of India-2011 Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy has
only five per cent of forest cover with only 391 square kilometres out of 7710 square
kilometres of total area.
AP State of Forests 2012 a recent report by the State government disclosed that moderate
dense, scrub forest and open forest areas in the State are converted into non-forest
areas. It is also revealed that there is degradation of forests from higher canopy
density class to lower canopy density class to an extent of 70 square kilometres is
reported in the State. Around 36.44 square kilometres f forest is lost due to fresh
encroachments and 16.29 square kilometres due to clearance of jungle growth for rising of
plantations and harvesting of matured plantations and diversion of forest land for
non-forestry purposes.
Most negative change in green cover due to encroachments was found in Khammam Circle
followed by Warangal and Nizamabad. Forest officials found encroachments in 34 Divisions
of the state. The Divisions contributing most negative changes due to encroachments are:
Bhadrachalam South, Kothagudem, Khammam, Warangal South, Warangal North and Paloncha.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mr S V Kumar in the report stated ,”Growing human
population as well as cattle head exerts heavy biotic pressure on the forests leading to
quantitative as well as qualitative degradation of the forests,”
Hyderabad Forest Division consists of Hyderabad and Rangareddy Districts has the highest
point in the city is Banjara Hills, which is 665 M above Mean Sea Level. “Comparison of
the current forest cover with that of previous assessment year shows a negative change of
184.30 hectares in Hyderabad’ says an official.
Environmentalist Mr. Devidas Mangnani says ,”Habitat loss will affect the biodiversity.
Hyderabad should go for more green options and tree felling should be stopped
immediately,”
AP 2009
2010
Very Dense forest 931.73 square km 931.73
Moderately Dense Forest 18418.53 square km 18408.48
Open Forest 22686.57 square km 22651.28
 |
| Nallamalais st Srisailam during peak of rainy season |
 |
| Nallamalais at Srisailam during peak of Summer |
worst hit when compared to other cities. Data released by Forest Survey of India and AP
Forest department revealed that alarmingly the tree cover over the size of Vijayawada
city has vanished in the state in a year. Around 45.34 square kilometres area of forests
vanished due to encroachments in the State and environmentalists say the area needs an
urgent attention. According to Forest Survey of India-2011 Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy has
only five per cent of forest cover with only 391 square kilometres out of 7710 square
kilometres of total area.
AP State of Forests 2012 a recent report by the State government disclosed that moderate
dense, scrub forest and open forest areas in the State are converted into non-forest
areas. It is also revealed that there is degradation of forests from higher canopy
density class to lower canopy density class to an extent of 70 square kilometres is
reported in the State. Around 36.44 square kilometres f forest is lost due to fresh
encroachments and 16.29 square kilometres due to clearance of jungle growth for rising of
plantations and harvesting of matured plantations and diversion of forest land for
non-forestry purposes.
Most negative change in green cover due to encroachments was found in Khammam Circle
followed by Warangal and Nizamabad. Forest officials found encroachments in 34 Divisions
of the state. The Divisions contributing most negative changes due to encroachments are:
Bhadrachalam South, Kothagudem, Khammam, Warangal South, Warangal North and Paloncha.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mr S V Kumar in the report stated ,”Growing human
population as well as cattle head exerts heavy biotic pressure on the forests leading to
quantitative as well as qualitative degradation of the forests,”
Hyderabad Forest Division consists of Hyderabad and Rangareddy Districts has the highest
point in the city is Banjara Hills, which is 665 M above Mean Sea Level. “Comparison of
the current forest cover with that of previous assessment year shows a negative change of
184.30 hectares in Hyderabad’ says an official.
Environmentalist Mr. Devidas Mangnani says ,”Habitat loss will affect the biodiversity.
Hyderabad should go for more green options and tree felling should be stopped
immediately,”
AP 2009
2010
Very Dense forest 931.73 square km 931.73
Moderately Dense Forest 18418.53 square km 18408.48
Open Forest 22686.57 square km 22651.28
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