In answer to a question posed in Parliament, March 2025, details of India's forest cover, were highlighted, state-wise. Madhya Pradesh, with its enviable 11 national parks and plethora of flora and fauna, is the Indian state that boasts the most forest cover. Arunachal Pradesh, however, has the highest percentage of forest.
Lakshwadeep, not surprisingly, has the least trees, among the 26 Indian states and union territories, given that the largest island is just 4 sq km. Andaman and Nicobar Islands have good tree cover, but are large islands by contrast. Bihar (24th on the list and 10.5 per cent of the state) and Uttar Pradesh (16th and 9.8 per cent) have disproportionately less forests, looking at their size.
Forest and tree cover: 85,724 sq km, 27 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 308,000 sq km
Three most common trees: Teak, sal, tendu
Forest and tree cover: 67,083 sq km, a whopping 80 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 83,743 sq km
Three most common trees: Hollong, oak, pine
Forest and tree cover: 65,383 sq km, 21 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 307,713 sq km
Three most common trees: Teak, ain, bamboo
Forest and tree Cover: 62,350 sq km, 46 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 135,192 sq km
Three most common trees: Sal, teak, mahua
Forest and tree cover: 58,597 sq km, 37 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 155,707 sq km
Three most common trees: Sal, teak, casuarina
Forest and tree cover: 47,033 sq km, 24 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 191,791 sq km
Three most common Trees: Teak, sandalwood, bamboo
Forest and tree cover: 35,425 sq km, 21 per cent of the state
Total state area: Approximately 162,968 sq km
Three most common trees: Teak, red sanders, tamarind
Forest and tree cover: 31,821 sq km, 24 per cent of the state
Total state area: ~130,058 sq km
Three most common trees: Teak, eucalyptus, wattle