Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?
Answer:
Land Use Pattern in India and Reasons for Limited Increase in Forest Area
India’s land use is divided into categories such as forests, agricultural land, pastures, barren land, and non-agricultural land (used for housing, industries, and infrastructure). Agriculture occupies the largest share, while forests cover around 21-24% of the land.
Since 1960-61, the forested area has not increased significantly due to:
- Deforestation for agriculture and urbanization to support a growing population.
- Industrial expansion and infrastructure projects, leading to forest clearance.
- Illegal logging and encroachments despite conservation efforts.
- Slow afforestation and reforestation programs, which cannot compensate for rapid deforestation.
Efforts like afforestation, sustainable development, and stricter laws are needed to increase forest cover.