Odisha's forest cover has increased by 274 sq km

The forest cover in Odisha has increased by 274 square kilometre in the last two years, officials said.

Different initiatives and projects taken up under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (Campa) helped in increasing the forest cover of the state, they said.

Odisha has added another 274 square kilometre forest cover has been reported in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), a biennial publication of Forest survey of India, said the Chief Executive Officer of Campa, Uma Nanduri.

While the states total forest cover area was 51,345 square km in 2017, it increased to 51,619 square km in 2019, the official said.

She said: "As per ISFR- 2019, the forest area in Odisha has increased by 274 sq km in 2017 to 2019." The issue was discussed at the state level steering committee authority meeting of CAMPA held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AK Tripathy on Tuesday.

Apart from that, she said the tree cover area has also increased by ..