Madhya Pradesh reported a 1,390 sq km increase in forest cover between 2003 and 2023, a rise attributed to sustained policies, extensive planting and community-led programmes. At a high-level review on 20 June, the MP chief minister reviewed the Forest Department’s performance and outlined future plans.The state achieved nearly its Rs 1,650 crore forest revenue target in 2023–24, netting Rs 1,646 crore—of which Rs 189.8 crore was shared with forest committees.
For 2024–25, the revenue goal has been raised to Rs 1,700 crore. Plantation efforts included over 5.67 crore saplings and bamboo cultivation across 7,360 hectares under the National Bamboo Mission. Joint Forest Management restored a further 431,000 hectares of degraded land. These efforts reflect a model of eco‑friendly, low‑carbon restoration. In a push for inclusivity, 792 of 925 forest villages were upgraded to revenue village status, improving access to development schemes. Land-lease extensions and a beneficiary survey aim to regularise rights of forest‑dwelling communities, enhancing equity in green growth.
Transparency in planning has been boosted by uploading all forest maps to the Gati Shakti portal and Google Earth, enabling data-driven decision-making and tighter monitoring. Environmental education is gaining traction too. Over 121,000 students from nearly 1,900 schools have been engaged via the “Anubhuti” programme to build awareness about conservation. Five ecologically critical sites—Patalkot, Naro Hills, Amarkantak, Sirpur Lake and Valmi Campus—have been declared biodiversity heritage sites, elevating them under conservation awareness and tourism. Fire control measures show dramatic improvements. Average response times plummeted from eight to three hours, and more than 105,000 individuals have registered on the Forest Survey of India’s real-time fire alert system—the highest such participation in India.
Wildlife protection is also in focus, with 160 km of fencing planned around protected areas and new rescue and safari centres proposed for Ujjain and Jabalpur. A DPR for the Ujjain centre is at the Central Zoo Authority for approval, with work for Jabalpur underway. These initiatives align with MP’s broader drive to define dense forest regions as economic assets. Beyond timber, the state is pursuing wildlife tourism and eco‑mathods to generate low-carbon revenue, balanced against development. Nonetheless, Madhya Pradesh continues to face major threats. The State remains India’s largest forest state, yet lost 612 sq km of cover between 2021–23, much of it due to fire, urbanisation and unregulated exploitation Moreover, experts warn that climate change and pollution threaten water and soil quality, requiring stronger policy coordination.
The Forest Department is exploring private investment to restore degraded tracts via CSR and carbon credit routes, though activists caution that safeguards must protect community access and biodiversity. MP’s recent achievements showcase how long-term commitment, citizen engagement and transparency can expand green cover in a large state. Sustainable growth in natural capital, though, demands continuous vigilance—against climate stress, unplanned land-use change and social inequity. As Madhya Pradesh charts a course towards carbon resilience, its ability to maintain forest density, enhance community rights and balance economic development with conservation will define its journey toward truly sustainable, inclusive cities and landscapes.
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