Introduction

Odisha is located on the east coast of the country having 155,707 km² geographical area  which constitutes 4.74% area of the country. It lies in the tropical zone between latitudes of 17°47’N and 22°34’N and longitudes of 81°22’E and 87°29’E.  Physiorgaphically, the state can be divided into four regions, viz., Northern ,Plateau, Eastern Ghats, Central Tableland and Coastal Plains. The state is drained by three major rivers, Mohanadi, Brahamani and Baitarani. The famous Hirakud Dam on river Mahanadi is one of the largest dams in the world. The state is rich in mineral resources including coal, iron, bauxite, chromite and nickel. The annual rainfall varies between 1,200 mm to 1,600 mm and the mean annual temperature ranges between 25° c to 27.5° c .


Geographical Area

155,707, sq km

Population (as per Census 2011)

41.97 million

Urban

7.00 million (16.68%)

Rural

34.97 million (83.32%)

Tribal

9.59 million (22.85%)

Average Population Density

270 per sq km

Livestock Population (as per 18th Livestock Census)

23.06 million

No. of Districts (as per Census 2011)

30

No. of Hill Districts

0

No. of Tribal Districts

12

 

Forest Cover within Green Wash

Very Dense Forest

6,780 sq km

Moderately Dense Forest

19,646 sq km

Open Forest

17,555 sq km

Sub Total

43,981 sq km

Forest Cover outside Green Wash

Very Dense Forest

262 sq km

Moderately Dense Forest

1,652 sq km

Open Forest

4,452 sq km

Sub Total

6,366 sq km

Total Forest Cover

50,347 sq km

Tree Cover

4,013 sq km

Total Forest & Tree Cover

54,360 sq km

Per Capita Forest & Tree Cover

0.129 ha.

Of State’s Geographical Area

34.91%

Of India’s Forest & Tree Cover

6.89%

 

Growing Stock

Growing Stock in Recorded Forest Area

235.77 million cum

Growing Stock in TOF

74.49 million cum

Growing Stock in Agroforestry

65.19 million cum

Growing Stock in Urban Area

3.61 million cum

 

Recorded Forest Area

Reserved Forest Area

26,329 sq km

Protected Forest

15,525 sq km

Unclassed Forest

16,282 sq km

Total

58,136 sq km

Of State’s Geographical Area

37.34%

Of India’s Forest Area

7.53%







District Wise Forest Cover of Odisha State (as per 2013 Assessment)

Area in sq. km.

District

Geo-graphical Area

Very Dense Forest

Moderate Dense Forest

Open Forest

Total

Percent of GA

Change

Scrub

Angul

6375

362

1350

990

2702

42.38

35

117

Balasore

3806

23

126

199

348

9.14

44

49

Bargarh

5837

176

371

396

943

16.16

47

89

Bhadrak

2505

0

7

55

62

2.48

38

0

Bolangir

6575

69

222

675

966

14.69

29

234

Boudh

3098

264

548

451

1263

40.77

8

82

Cuttack

3932

44

206

521

771

19.61

104

74

Deogarh

2940

156

623

596

1375

46.77

34

15

Dhenkanal

4452

172

346

881

1399

31.42

57

86

Gajapati

4325

84

1485

902

2471

57.13

-16

252

Ganjam

8206

162

1089

849

2100

25.59

107

665

Jagatsinghpur

1668

0

6

127

133

7.97

110

1

Jajpur

2899

6

68

222

296

10.21

41

50

Jharsuguda

2081

3

138

170

311

14.94

12

52

Kalahandi

7920

419

777

1211

2407

30.39

76

356

Kendrapara

2644

82

81

106

269

10.17

75

6

Keonjhar

8303

303

1385

1523

3211

38.67

-5

54

Khandamal

8021

650

2620

2101

5371

66.96

-98

320

Khurda

2813

23

187

246

456

16.21

62

93

Koraput

8807

102

727

1099

1928

21.89

234

870

Malkangiri

5791

157

709

1455

2321

40.08

135

36

Mayurbhanj

10418

1326

1707

988

4021

38.60

29

35

Nuapada

3852

86

484

670

1240

32.19

11

129

Nabarangpur

5291

182

460

483

1125

21.26

-17

45

Nayagarh

3890

186

965

531

1682

43.24

17

196

Puri

3479

0

55

152

207

5.95

107

12

Rayagada

7073

428

860

1845

3133

44.30

17

279

Sambalpur

6657

531

1729

1098

3358

50.44

49

47

Sonepur

2337

2

196

132

330

14.12

6

51

Sundargarh

9712

1044

1771

1333

4148

42.71

96

129

Grand Total

155707

7042

21298

22007

50347

32.33

1444

4424

 

Forest Cover Change Matrix of Odisha

Area in sq. km.

2011 Assessment

2013 Assessment

Total 2011

VDF

MDF

OF

Scrub

NF

Very Dense Forest (VDF)

6972

70

0

0

18

7060

Moderately Dense Forest (MDF)

70

21166

108

0

22

21366

Open Forest (OF)

0

62

20332

0

83

20477

Scrub

0

0

264

4423

47

4734

Non Forest (NF)

0

0

1303

1

100766

102070

Total 2013

7042

21298

22007

4424

100936

155707

Net Change

-18

-68

1530

-310

-1134

 

 

Altitude-wise Forest Cover of Odisha

Area in sq. km.

Altitude Zone

VDF

MDF

OF

Total

0-500m

3469

12965

15654

32088

500-1000m

3470

8023

6130

17623

1000-2000m

103

310

223

636

Grand Total

7042

21298

22007

50347


Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Athagarh Division


Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Balasore Wildlife Division


Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Chilika WL Division


Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Similipal Tiger Reserve, Baripada Division


Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Satkosia WL Division


Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Rajnagar WL Division

Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Puri WL Division

Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Mahanadi WL Division

Forest Cover Change-2015-2017-Koraput Division






Forest Area diverted to Non-Forest use in Odisha State

Sl. No

Year

Number of

Projects

Area diverted to

 Non-forest use

(in hectare)

1.       

1982

1

3.43

2.       

1983

4

124.02

3.       

1984

18

2000.89

4.       

1985

5

517.38

5.       

1986

3

770.08

6.       

1987

5

952.90

7.       

1988

9

975.63

8.       

1989

13

1737.38

9.       

1990

24

2714.92

10.  

1991

5

3.17

11.  

1992

7

508.84

12.  

1993

8

4729.25

13.  

1994

3

788.92

14.  

1995

6