The forest resources of Jharkhand are abundantly distributed over the Chota Nagpur Plateau region and constitutes a critical lifeline for the indigenous forest dwellers, especially the PVTGby offering them sustenance and livelihood.
The state of Jharkhand has a diverse variety of forest cover consisting of Dry peninsular sal forest, Northern dry mix deciduous forest, Moist peninsular sal forest, Northern dry mixed deciduous forest , Moist peninsular sal forest , dry deciduous scrubs and dry bamboo brake. Total forest area is 29.61% of the total geographical area. Out of which reserved forest is 18.58% and protected forest is 81.28%. In terms of forest canopy density classes, very dense forest cover -2558 km2, MDF-9663,Of-11,227.
The forest department follows the prime objectives of National forest policy,1988, which envisaged ensuring the environment stability and maintaining the ecological balance as essential tools for the sustenance of all life forms, human, animal and plant. The schemes launched by Government of Rajasthan:
Mukhyamantri Jan Van Yojana: The objective of the scheme is to improve the livelihood condition of rural people. The objective also includes increasing the forest cover, conserve soil and moisture through different plantation exercise on land outside forest., to expanad the tree cover outside the forest area thus reducing the pressure on the existing notified forest; to augment the farm income through farm forestry .
Afforestation and soil conservation on notified forest land– degraded forest are taken for restoration plan.
Afforestation on land outside notified area: To construct green belt outside the notified forest area particularly in and around the urban areas. Plantation along the NH and SH.