Bhubaneswar: Odisha has reported significant forest loss due to wildfires over the past year, with 4,609.347 hectares of forest area affected between July 2024 and today, informed Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia in the State Assembly on Tuesday
Responding to a query by Congress MLA from Pottangi Ram Chandra Kadam, the Minister in a written reply stated that Odisha currently has a total forest cover of 52,433.56 sq km. However, widespread forest fires have caused substantial damage across multiple forest divisions. A detailed division-wise breakdown was provided, highlighting major losses in Nabarangpur, Phulbani, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Khariar, Malkangiri, Jeypore, and several wildlife divisions such as Similipal North & South, Sunabeda, and Boudh.
The Minister clarified that while forest vegetation has been severely affected, the department has no recorded reports of wildlife fatalities or harm to birds, animals, or other species due to these fires so far.
He said that to compensate for the damaged forest cover, the government has intensified large-scale reforestation and restoration initiatives. As part of its ongoing afforestation programme, the Forest Department has taken up fresh plantation and regeneration activities across the state.
According to official data: In 2024–25, plantations were carried out over 30,921.14 hectares, with 197.78 lakh saplings planted.
For 2025–26, plans cover 25,959.63 hectares, targeting the plantation of 205.10 lakh saplings.
In total, 402.88 lakh saplings are being planted across 49,753.24 hectares under various schemes to rebuild the affected forest areas. The government emphasized that dense forest regeneration, restoration of degraded patches, and compensatory afforestation are being prioritized to ensure ecological recovery.
The Minister reaffirmed its commitment to continuous monitoring, wildfire management, and the creation of resilient forest ecosystems to mitigate future losses.
