Himachal Pradesh Unveils Ambitious 2030 Forestry Strategy: Targeting 31% Forest Cover Through Sustainable Expansion

The Himachal Pradesh government has announced a definitive environmental objective: elevating the state's forest cover from the current 29.5% to 31% by the year 2030. This directive, issued by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, mandates the State Forest Department to formulate a comprehensive and actionable roadmap grounded in principles of sustainable planning. The initiative represents a calculated, long-term commitment to ecological enhancement, aligning with broader national and global sustainability benchmarks. Analysis indicates this targeted 1.5-percentage-point increase, while numerically modest, signifies a substantial operational undertaking requiring meticulous afforestation, reforestation, and conservation protocols. The success of this agenda will hinge on integrated land-use strategies, community engagement, and robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure the qualitative health of new and existing forested areas. This policy move positions Himachal Pradesh as a proactive regional actor in climate mitigation and biodiversity preservation, setting a measurable benchmark for subnational environmental governance in India. The forthcoming departmental roadmap will be scrutinized for its technical feasibility, resource allocation framework, and mechanisms to balance ecological goals with socio-economic development imperatives.