Source of Forest Data

Section A- It Deal with various Statistical aspect of forest

Introduction

As on 27/09/2025, Forest survey 2023 is the Latest forest Survey available to us. This survey is conducted by Govt of India and State Govt has its no such survey. Below has many interactive maps that will make whole forest issue easy grab.

In Below given table you can see Forest area covers around 27.99 % of Himachal Pradesh Area. Out of this Moderate dense forest constitute the 13.08% of State area, Open forest constitutes around 9.31% of state area, and Very dense forest cover only 5.6% of State area. Thus it is the Moderate Dense forest which dominate the Himachal Pradesh forest scape.

Classification of Forest Based on ,Latest Forest Survey 2023.

Class	Area (km²)	% of Calculated Area by SoI
VDF	3117.6	5.6
MDF	7280.29	13.08
OF	5182.46	9.31
Scrub	308.69	0.55
Total	15580.35	27.99

A.) Total Forest area in Percentage to Total District Area ( As per latest Forest Survey 2023)

In this session you can see how much forest area constitute to total District area. With helps of Below give Maps and Table , we can concluede:-

• In term of Percentage, Sirmaur has Largest Area under forest cover
• Sirmaur is followed by Shimla and Solan with 47.64 % and 46.94% forest area respectively.
• Lahaul Spiti has Least Area under the Forest roughly 1.05% of District area is forest area.
• If you see below give map most district of South has high forest area in percentage to district area.

However if we Just see absolute area not Percentage, in Below given Map Following points get Cleared:

• In term of Absolute area Chamba Topped the state with an area of 2456.15 Sq.km followed by Shimla and Kangra.
• Lahaul Spiti has least area i.e 146.01 Sq.km under Forest followed by Bilaspur and Una.

B.) Types of Various forests and their Spread in districts.

In below given maps you can see how different kind of forest spread in different district , however this detail is based on absolute number and not on percentage.

• Shimla top in categories of Very Dense Forest types with absolute area of 778.96 km.sq. It is followed by Kullu and Chamba with area of 634.95 Sq.km and 596.72 Sq.km
• In Moderate Dense Forest Form- Kangra topped with 1301.44 Sq.km area, followed by Chamba with 1221.92 Sq.km.
• In Open Forest Form- Kangra Topped followed by Kullu.
• In Term of Absolute total Area- Chamba Topped followed by Shimla and Kangra.

Section -B – This section Deal with Various Qualitative Aspects of Forests.

Climate of Himacahl Pradesh and Forest:

Climatically state of Himachal Pradesh can be classified into: (see in Detail Climate Classification of Himachal Pradesh.)

1. Foothill Subtropical Zone (Shiwalik)

• Location: Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, parts of Kangra and Sirmaur
• Climate: Hot summers (up to 40°C), mild winters, heavy monsoon rain
• This area have low altitude and receive no rainfall but in monsoon it receive good rainfall. Popular trees in areas are Sal, Khair, Shisham, Chir Pine, mixed broadleaf, riverine species. The districts such as Una,Hamirpur and Bilaspur fall in this zone has very little forest area. The main Reason of Low forest area is High population density and increasing industrialization.
• This area is dominated by Open Forest and Moderate Dense forest. They lack very Dense forest.
• These forest area is also very prone to Forest fire.
• Simbarlbara National Park, Pong Dam Wildlife sanctuaries etc are important protected area.( see more Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park of Himachal Pradesh.)

2. Lower Hill Subtropical Zone

• Location: Solan, Palampur, lower Shimla belt
• Climate: Warm summers, cool winters, abundant rainfall
• Crops: Maize, wheat, vegetables, pulses
• This belt is transition zone to higher temperate zone. Pine , Eucalaphytuc etc Dominate the region.
• This area also receive good rainfall in monsoon.

3. Mid-Hill and Cool Temperate Zone

• Location: Shimla, Dharamshala, Mandi, parts of Chamba , Kullu, higher Shimla ridges, parts of Kinnaur
• Climate: Pleasant summers, cold winters with snowfall
• Crops: Apple, pear, plum, barley, wheat
• Popular Trees included Oak species, deodar, fir, spruce, blue pine, conifer mixes, mixed broadleaf-conifer.

4. Alpine and Cold Desert (Tundra Climate)

• Location: Lahaul-Spiti, upper Kinnaur, Pangi valley
• Climate: Very cold, little rainfall, sparse vegetation
• Crops: Barley, buckwheat, peas; livestock rearing (yaks, goats, sheep)
• Popular Trees included Birch, rhododendron, juniper, alpine shrubs, scrub, grasses

5. Icecap and Glacial Zone

• Location: Peaks above 5,000 m (Shilla, Reo Purgyil, Bara Shigri Glacier)
• Climate: Permanent ice and snow, sub-zero temperatures round the year
• Crops/Activity: No agriculture; only glaciers and ice fields
• This zone has no vegetation.

Section C- Himachal Pradesh Forest Comparison with other States.

Forest Survey 2023