Srinagar, Dec 23 (KNO): In a major development, Jammu and Kashmir has the highest increase in growing stock across the country—thus indicating the status of forest health and productivity here.
The official documents accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads, “In absolute terms, Jammu and Kashmir has the highest increase in growing stock, followed by Madhya Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.”
It also said that in terms of percentages, “Andaman and Nicobar Islands is showing highest gain in Growing Stock in Recorded Forest Area (RFA) with 132.50 percent followed by Jammu and Kashmir with 62.16 percent and Telangana with 56.30 percent.”
The official figures further reveal that among the States, the highest growing stock in agroforestry is observed in Maharashtra with 136.45 cubic meters followed by Karnataka 98.31 cubic meters, Odisha with 88.53 cubic meters and Rajasthan with 86.26 cubic meters.
“Among the UTs, the highest growing stock is observed in Jammu and Kashmir with 29.59 cubic meters followed by Andaman-Nicobar Islands with 0.90 cubic meters and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu with cubic meters,” it reads.
According to the official figures Arunachal Pradesh has a maximum carbon stock of 1,021 metric ton followed by Madhya Pradesh with 608 metric ton, Chhattisgarh with 505 metric ton and Maharashtra with 465 metric ton. “The per hectare carbon stock among different States and UTs indicates that Jammu and Kashmir is contributing maximum per hectare carbon stock of 174.10 ton per hectare, followed by Sikkim with 169.20 ton per hectare, Himachal Pradesh with 163.68 ton per hectare and Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 161.62 ton per hectare.”
Besides, the documents reveal that an important component of the forest fire program is to generate Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS) of fire detections and disseminate them to the state forest departments for use of these services through their portals.
“FSI has provided these services to the states, including Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Goa, and Delhi as requested by the SFD,” it reads—(KNO)