Green cover shrinks in Odisha: Over 4,609 hectares of forest lost to wildfires in 17 months

Odisha has lost 4,609.347 hectares of forest land to wildfires between July 2024 and December 2025, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia informed the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Minister, responding to a written question from Congress MLA Ram Chandra Kadam of Pottangi, said the figures reflect cumulative damage recorded across multiple forest divisions over a 17-month period.

In his written reply, the Minister said that Odisha’s current forest cover stands at 52,433.56 sq km, but several divisions, including Nabarangpur, Phulbani, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Khariar, Malkangiri, and Jeypore, have reported significant fire-related losses.

Wildlife divisions such as Similipal North and South, Sunabeda and Boudh also reported extensive vegetation damage, he added.

No Wildlife Casualties Recorded So Far

The Minister told the House that there were no recorded reports of wildlife fatalities or harm to birds, animals or other species due to these fires so far. He said that his department continues to verify incident reports from divisions where fires were most frequent during the last fire season.

Forest vegetation, he noted, accounted for the bulk of losses, with repeated surface fires damaging regeneration areas, scrub patches and adjoining plantation zones.

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Large-Scale Plantation Drive Underway

In response to this loss of green cover, the government has intensified reforestation in affected areas. In his reply, the Minister stated that the state government had allocated over Rs 4 crore over the same period to reforest 56,880 hectares.

According to department data placed in the Assembly:

• In 2024–25, plantations covered 30,921.14 hectares, with 197.78 lakh saplings planted.
• In 2025–26, the department has targeted 25,959.63 hectares, with 205.10 lakh saplings planned.

Across both years, a total of 402.88 lakh saplings are being planted over 49,753.24 hectares under various afforestation and regeneration schemes, informed Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia.