We need more forest cover: Jairam

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today emphasised on increasing the country's forest cover through the Green India Mission, while India played global host to the World Environment Day for the first time today.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday emphasised on increasing the country's forest cover through the Green India Mission, while India played global host to the World Environment Day for the first time on Sunday.

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"Forest cover should be 33% in India. To accomplish this, area would have to be reclaimed from the sea while we increase the monitoring of the forest cover," Ramesh said while launching the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on 'Forests in a Green Economy'.

The Green India Mission focusses on conserving and increasing India's forest cover.

"By January 2013, real time monitoring of forest cover would be possible," Ramesh said.

UNEP, in alignment with the UN International Year of Forests, 2011, under its theme for this year 'Saving Forests', is celebrating a multitude of services performed by the world's forests - providing clean air, housing rich biodiversity and supplying water

The capital has also been celebrating the World Environment Day for almost a week.

The national capital witnessed a five-day 'Green Haat', showcasing initiatives of forest dwellers and minor forest produce federations of various states, highlighting the value added forest products at Dilli Haat. The environment ministry and UNEP also held a screening of films on biodiversity at the Tihar Jail.

School students participated in a Green Walkathon flagged off by Ramesh on Sunday morning.