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Countries Appendix INDIA (21.9%) Tropical forest cover in India has been reduced to two major areas: the coastal hills of the Western Ghats (about 60,000 square miles-155,000 sq. km) and 15,000 square miles (39,000 sq. km) in Northeastern India. About 50 million hectares of India's 65 million hectares of total forest are natural. 84% of these forests are protected either as reserve forests (54% - primarily for conservation) or protected forests (30% - for local village use), while 16% are unclassified. India shifted the focus of its forest policy from a production mentality to an environmental tool in 1988 and since has taken steps to reduce illegal logging and encourage wood imports in an effort to conserve local supplies. Still, between 1993 and 1995, the Northeast lost some 78,300 ha of forest. Widespread flooding problems in India (second most flood prone country after Bangladesh) has resulted in the construction of over 250 dams with more than 150 more planned. The construction of the dams has inundated large areas of rainforest. In addition, population pressures (India is the world's second largest country in terms of population) have stepped up collection of fuelwood and clearing for land, and felling for timber are damaging to the forests. . . . . . For current information I highly recommend trying the CIA and FAO links below. |
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