What percentage of Haryana is officially recognized as being under forest cover?

• Gurugram Haryana, has the lowest forest cover in India, as per the Forest Survey of India’s report 2019.
• The Indian State of Forests Report 2019 (ISFR) pegs the state’s increase in forest cover (between 2015 and 2017) at 0.03 percentage points, far below the national average of 0.56%.
• As per the ISFR 2017 (the report is published biennially), Haryana had a forest cover comprising 3.59% of its total area.

Additional information

• According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, 3.63% of Haryana's geographical area is covered by forests. This is 1,603 square kilometers of forest cover.
• Haryana is primarily an agricultural state, with almost 80% of its land under cultivation. The state's forest cover is spread across the Shiwalik Hills in the north, the Aravalli hills in the south, sand dunes in the west, and wastelands, saline-alkaline lands, and waterlogged sites in the central part of the state.
• The National Forest Policy of India states that the ideal percentage of forest cover should be at least 33% to maintain ecological stability.