Forestry in Rajasthan plays a crucial role in conserving the state’s fragile ecosystem, especially in its arid and semi-arid regions. It focuses on the protection, management, and expansion of forest resources to prevent desertification, support biodiversity, and meet local livelihood needs. Through social forestry and conservation programs, Rajasthan aims to maintain ecological balance and sustainable development.
Forestry in Rajasthan
State Animal – Chinkara & Camel
State Bird – Great Indian Bustard (Godawan)
State Tree – Khejri
State Flower – Rohida
Total forest area of Rajasthan: 33,014 sq km. This is 9.64% of the state’s total geographical area.
Classification of Forests (as per Forest Act, 1953)
Reserved Forests
Protected Forests
Unclassed Forests
12,198.71. sq. km (36.99%)Strictly prohibited grazing, hunting, and logging.Mostly in Udaipur.
18,631.13 sq. km (56.51%)Limited grazing and controlled logging.Mostly in Baran.
2,184.16 sq. km (6.50%)No restrictions on grazing or cutting.Maximum – Bikaner
Forest Cover (FSI 2023) – Total Forest Cover: 16,548.21 sq km
Total Forest + Tree Cover – 27,389.33 sq km (8.00% of state geographical area)
Forest Cover Type
Area (sq km)
Percentage of Geographical Area
Very Dense Forest (VDF)
223.2
0.07%
Moderately Dense Forest (MDF)
4,237.41
1.24%
Open Forest (OF)
12,087.60
3.53%
Total
16548.21
4.84%
Scrub
5,476.75
1.60%
As per ISFR 2023 Fire prone areas in Rajasthan
Category
Area
Percentage
Extremely fire prone
92.64
0.42%
Very highly fire prone
622.77
2.83%
Highly fire prone
964.79
4.38%
Moderately fire prone
1,299.19
5.90%
Less fire prone
19,045.57
86.47%
Provision for environment in budget 2025-26
Green Budget:
First Green Budget with special focus on (i) Climate Change Adaptation (ii) Forest and Environment Biodiversity/ Ecology (iii) Sustainable Agriculture, Water Harvesting/Recharge (iv) Sustainable land use (v) Green Energy (vi) Recycling and Waste Disposal – Circular Economy (vii) Clean Tech Development (viii) Green Audit (ix) Capacity Building-Education, Skilling and (x) Green Funding.
Climate Change Adaptation Plan-2030.
Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Rs. 150 Cr.
Plantation of 10 crore trees under Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan.
Tree Outside Forest (ToFR) Policy and Agro-Forestry Policy.
Subsidy for 2,50,000 farmers for natural farming.
Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban abhiyan 2.0, Water Harvesting Structures in more than 4,700 villages.
GIS based Green Land Use Perspective Plan, Rs. 30 Cr.
Establishment of Waste to Wealth Parks (Circularity Parks).
‘Bartan Bank’ for providing steel utensils at Gram Panchyats
Clean and Green Technology Development Centre, Rs. 250 Cr.
Various urban areas to be developed as Clean and Green-Eco Cities, Rs. 900 Cr. fund.
Provision of Green Audit, Rs. 35 Cr.
Sustainable Development Goals Coordination and Acceleration Centre (SDGCAC)
Certification Courses in Sustainable Development and Green Growth Rs. 40 Cr.
Rajasthan Green Credit Mechanism.
Rajasthan Green Challenge Fund, Rs. 100 Cr
Green Aravali Development Project, Rs. 250 Cr.
Other efforts
Aravalli Green Wall Project
Ambitious plan to create a 1,400 km long and 5 km wide green belt buffer around the Aravalli Mountain range. Covers Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
29 districts included (19 from Rajasthan)
1. Initial Phase – 75 water bodies to be rejuvenated.
Starting with 5 water bodies in each district of the Aravalli landscape
Inspiration – Inspired by Africa’s “Great Green Wall” project (Senegal to Djibouti, started in 2007)
As per ISRO Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas (2018–19): 97.85 million hectares (29.7% of India’s TGA of 328.72 mha) underwent land degradation.
Aravalli is identified as a key degraded zone to be taken up for greening under India’s plan to restore 26 million hectares.
Rajasthan Circular Economy Incentive Scheme, 2025
Launched on – 5th June 2025
The objective of the scheme is to promote the reuse, regeneration, and redesign of materials by supporting industries, research institutions, start-ups, MSMEs, and innovators to develop a sustainable circular ecosystem in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, through this scheme, shall provide:
Financial incentives up to Rs. 2 crores will be provided for R&D in the field of Recycling and Reuse.
MSMEs and Start-ups working in the domain of Circular Economy will be granted an additional 0.5% relaxation in the existing financial assistance schemes.
Rajasthan Climate Change Response and Ecosystem ServicesEnhancement
This project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Project is effective from October, 2024 and scheduled to be completed by March, 2035.
The development activities will be carried out in 19 districts of Rajasthan which are Ajmer, Barmer, Banswara, Bikaner, Churu, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Sikar, Sirohi, Rajsamand and Udaipur.
Agroforestry works promoting agro-forestry practices to enhance rural livelihoods and improve ecological balance.
Conservation of Great Indian Bustard – Development initiatives focused on the Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, to protect and conserve this critically endangered species.
Strengthening Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) Capacity-building efforts for 160 Biodiversity Management Committees to enhance biodiversity conservation at the grassroots level.
Oran (Sacred Grove) Conservation – Undertaking conservation measures across 10,000 hectares of sacred groves in the western districts to preserve their ecological and cultural significance.
Creation of Plant Micro Reserves Establishing 3,000 hectares of Plant Micro Reserves for the conservation of Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) plant species.
Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project-AFD
The Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project (RFBDP) is an initiative supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), spanning eight years from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
Funding – AFD and State government in the ratio 70:30.
The project is being implemented across 13 districts of Rajasthan namely – Alwar, Baran, Bhilwara, Bharatpur, Bundi, Dausa, Dholpur, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Karauli, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk. It encompasses activities in 800 villages, aiming to conserve biodiversity and enhance deciduous forest resources in the eastern region of the State.
5. Core Activities-
Afforestation: Increasing green cover to restore ecological balance.
Soil and Water Conservation: Enhancing soil fertility and water availability.
Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation: Improving habitats and promoting wildlife development works.
Capacity Building and Research: Conducting training programs and research activities for effective forest management.
Livelihood Improvement: Supporting forest-dependent communities through participatory management under JFM.
