Goa’s total tree-cover is around 60 per cent, which makes it the fifth ranking state in terms of forest cover and first among the coastal states.

Forest cover in the state has increased by 5 sq km in recent years thanks to the increase in mangrove area by 4 sq km, said Ajai Saxena, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Goa.

Talking to presspersons here early this week in the context of ‘vanamahotsava’, Saxena said this was as according to the 2015 Forest Survey of India report.

Minister for Environment and Forest Rajendra Arlekar, who was also present, in reply to a question on the shrinking space for development in view of the growing forest area, said there is no need to put a restriction on or control increasing forest cover if the available land was used optimally.

Saxena said the Centre conducts a survey every two years to find out the forest cover.

"In the 2015 report it was found that there was an increase in forest cover by 5 sq km, of which 4 sq km was accounted for by mangroves," he said.

He further said the recorded forest cover of the State was 33 per cent, while private forests accounted for 40 per cent of the total area. Taking into consideration the plantations, particularly cashew plantations, he said the total tree-cover accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the geographical area of the tiny State of 3,702 sq km.

In reply to another question, Arlekar said the High Tide Line for Goa would be decided afresh.

“We asked for concessions from the Centre in the Coastal Regulation Zone norms to give relief to traditional coastal houses,” he said.

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