Gujarat Expands Green Cover with Ahmedabad Leading the Initiative
Source:timesofindia-indiatimes ↗
Why It Matters
Important for GPSC aspirants tracking Gujarat's regional development, environmental policies, and ecological indicators.
Summary
Gujarat has successfully expanded its green cover across 1,526 hectares, with Ahmedabad district taking the lead. This environmental initiative underscores the state's commitment to boosting urban and regional afforestation, combating climate change, and improving ecological balance.
Key Points
- Gujarat expanded its green cover across 1,526 hectares, with Ahmedabad leading the initiative among districts.
- The expansion reflects ongoing state efforts towards urban forestry, tree plantation drives, and environmental conservation.
- Enhancing green cover helps mitigate urban heat island effects, improves air quality, and contributes to climate change mitigation targets.
Important Terms
Gujarat Forest Department
The state government agency responsible for forest conservation, wildlife protection, afforestation, and management of green cover across Gujarat.
UPSC context
Important for GPSC Paper 3 (Environment, Conservation, and State Governance) — tests institutional frameworks for managing ecological balance and afforestation.
Prelims Trap
Gujarat has already achieved the national target of 33% forest and tree cover through its recent 1,526-hectare expansion drive.
Aspirants often confuse Gujarat's actual recorded forest and tree cover (~11.03% as per ISFR) with the 33% national forest policy target, treating state figures as state-achieved targets rather than baseline realities.
Static Concepts Connected
What are the key categories of forest cover and recorded forest areas in India as per the ISFR?
- VDF Category: Very Dense Forest includes all lands with a tree canopy density of 70 percent and above.
- MDF Category: Moderately Dense Forest covers lands with tree canopy density between 40 and 70 percent.
- Open Forest: Open Forest covers lands with tree canopy density between 10 and 40 percent.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Urban Forestry & 74th Amendment Linkages
Urban afforestation and Miyawaki-style dense plantations tie state-level climate targets directly to municipal governance mandates under the 74th Constitutional Amendment.
Coastal Ecology & Industrial Corridor Planning
Gujarat's saline land restoration programs merge coastal zone management with industrial corridor planning, balancing industrial growth and ecological security.
ISFR forest cover percentages combined with state afforestation schemes (like Maha Van Kavach) are high-yield match-the-following targets.
Linked PYQs · 1
Linked PYQs · 1
- 2026GPSC_PRELIMSGS1
The 'Great Indian Bustard (GIB)' (Ghorad) is frequently seen in the news in the context of wildlife conservation efforts in western India. Consider the following statements regarding this species: 1. Currently, the highest surviving wild population of the Great Indian Bustard in India is located in the semi-arid grasslands of Gujarat. 2. It is a long-distance migratory bird that travels from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent to escape harsh winters. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
