The State forest cover extends over an area of 58,136.869 sq km, out of which the reserve forests make up an area of 26,329.12 sq km (10,165.73 sq mi), demarcated protected forests make up 11,687.079 sq km (4,512.406 sq mi) and un-demarcated protected forests make up 3,638.78 sq km (1,404.94 sq mi). Other types of forests make up 16,261.34 sq km.

The forest cover in Raghurajpur is 6,278.54 sq mi while un-classed forests make up 20.55 sq km (7.93 sq mi) of the total forest cover, the Reserve Forests 26,329.12 sq km, the Demarcated Protected Forest 11,687.079 sq km, the Un-demarcated Protected Forest 3,838.78 sq km and the Un-classed Forest 20.55 sq km and other forests under the control of the Revenue Department are of 16,261.34 sq km.

The State also classifies forests based on their density. About 538 sq km (208 sq mi) of land are classified as very dense forests with a canopy density of over 70 per cent, 27,656 sq km (10,678 sq mi) of forests are classified as moderately dense cover with a canopy density of 40 to 70 per cent and 20,180 sq km (7,790 sq mi) of land is classified as open forest with a canopy density of 10 to 40 per cent.

Odisha has a diverse variety of plants and animals. Its forests yield large quantities of teak and bamboo. Teak, apart from medicinal plants and kendu leaves contribute substantially towards Odisha's economy. However, the State’s forest ecosystem has been greatly affected by deforestation and illegal smuggling and poaching. The State Government has established the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) to combat the menace of smuggling.

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has brought out a set of rules to force, in order to combat environmental pollution. Odisha is losing forests at an alarming rate as per the latest findings of the Forest Survey of India (FSI).

It appears that even though the forest laws have been made more stringent in 2003 with major amendments, the department is unable to check forest loss.

The results of the assessment, made in 2003 vis a vis that of 2001, have revealed that the forest area has decreased by 472 sq km compared to 2001 survey. There is a marginal growth in the dense forests which were earlier recorded at 27,972 sq km in 2001 while 28,170 sq km in 2003. As per the latest census, only 31 per cent of the State’s area has forests and 18 per cent of the State's geographical area is covered by dense forests while the ideal coverage should be 33.33 per cent.

The State's forests are now threatened by rampant mining and industrialisation in the forest areas. Timber smugglers active throughout the State and have been regularly decimating the dense forests of Satkosia, Keonjhar, Balliguda, Rayagada, Athmallik, Boudh, Simlipal, Baisapalli, Pallahara, Bonai, Dhenkanal areas.

Due to strong demand from cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Sambalpur, Balasore, Berhampur and Rourkela, there is a well-organised racket in felling of prime timber trees.

Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Cutack, Gajapati, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Puri and Sundargarh districts have lost forest cover.

Maximum forest loss, of 238 sq km, has been recorded in Ganjam district. This is closely followed by Keonjhar, 142 sq km, due to the mining sector.

Mayurbhanj has also lost 127 sq km due to timber smuggling and over exploitation of sal leaf collection.

Nayagarh has lost 100 sq km due to timber smuggling. Nearly 1,000 trees are required every year for the construction of the three chariots for the Puri Rath Yatra. The three chariots need 1,135 big logs of about 400 cubic metre timber including Phasi, Asana, Dhaura, Simili, Mahalima, Kadamba, Moi, Kalachua, Paldhua and Devadaru.

Due to non-availability of sufficient Phasi timbers, a Phasi tree bank has been formed by the State called Sri Jagannath Bana Prakalpa and has fixed a target of 2,688 hectare in eight divisions with financial support from the Panchayatiraj Department.

Since 1999-2000, the plantation work is being carried out by the DRDA funding.

It will take about 40 years for the saplings to become full grown trees. Huge quantity of sandal wood is also required for the Puri temple rituals and is purchased from Salem in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, the State Government is contemplating to raise sandal trees in Koraput district where the climate is conducive, official sources say. Steel frames of chariots with minimum consumption of timbers can be used for the sake of ecology and environment or else the car festival will prove to be an environmental nightmare for the State in near future.

Destruction of forests adds almost six billion tonnes of carbo dioxide into the atmosphere each year and preventing this stored carbon from escaping is important for the carbon balance and vital in conserving the environment.

Particularly in the tropics, where vegetation grows rapidly and therefore removes carbon from the atmosphere more quickly, planting trees can remove large amounts of carbon from the air within a relatively short time. Forests can store as much as 15 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year in their biomass and wood.

Proper management of forests can supply bio-energy without contributing any greenhouse gas to the atmosphere.

People of India have many festivals related to trees. One such festival is Van Mahotsav or the Forest Festival. The Van Mahotsav was started in 1950 by KM Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food, to create enthusiasm among masses for forest conservation and plantation.

The State Government has set itself an ambitious plan of generating at least five crore saplings during the current year while plantation will be carried out over one lakh hectare. All this will entail an investment of Rs 155 crore under various schemes of the State and the Centrally-sponsored programmes.

Dr Senapati is a Professor at the NM Institute of Engineering & Technology, Bhubaneswar