Total recorded forest land in the state is 11,879 sq.km., of which 7,054 sq.km. is Reserved Forest, 3,772 sq.km. is Protected Forest and 1,053 sq.km. is Unclassed State Forest, thus constituting 13.38% of the geographical area of the state.
The forest cover including the forests created outside the recorded forest area is 15.52% of the geographical area as assessed by the GIS Cell of the W.B. Forest Department in the year 2004 on the basis of Satellite Imagery procured from NRSA, Hyderabad in digital data format. While computing the forest cover of the State the protocol developed by RRSSC,Kharagpur underDept. of Space,GOI, NRSA,Hyderabad in earlier studies was followed. Estuarine water bodies like rivers& creeks in mangrove forest and river flowing through the recorded forest land in Jalpaiguri have been included while computing the forest cover.Similarly large portions of farm foresty plantation, raised out side forest land, having forest likemicro ecosystem,have been enumerated as forest cover.
The vegetation cover of the state is around 27% of the geographical area. The vegetation cover includes village orchareds/groves,tea garden and horticulture plantations

Classification of Recorded Forest Land(Legal status)

Reserved Forest :

An area notified under the provisions of Indian Forest Act or State Forest Acts having full degree of protection. In Reserved Forests all activities are prohibited unless specifically permitted.

Protected Forest :

An area notified under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act or State Forest Acts having limited degree of protection. In Protected Forest all activities are permitted unless prohibited.

Unclassed Forest :

An area recorded as forest but not included in Reserved or Protected forest category. Ownership status of such forests variys from state to state.

LEGAL STATUS OF FORESTS IN WEST BENGAL SINCE 1901
Districtwise Area under Forests

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