Nagaland is rich in forest produces such as timber, cane and bamboo, flora and fauna. The Government has taken various measures for rubber plantation, preservation of flora & fauna, wild life and plantation of various species of trees which has high commercial value. There has been thoughtless exploitation of natural forests of the State in the past. But, today, forest plantation has become a passion with the Nagas, assisted in no small measure by funding from Canadian agencies. Almost all the vacant fallow lands are being rapidly covered with various high value timber varieties as the people have fully realized the commercial and ecological importance of forests. Investment potential exists for setting up of farms for production and promotion of Non-wood timber products with efficient marketing network.
District-Wise Forest cover, 2022-23:
(Area in sq.Km)
| District | Geographical Area (GA) | Very Dense Forest | 2021 Assessment | Total | Percent of GA | Change | Scrub | |
| Mod. Dense Forest | Open Forest | |||||||
| Dimapur | 927 | 23.69 | 153.56 | 412.44 | 589.69 | 63.61 | -2.40 | 9.23 |
| Kiphire | 1130 | 150.26 | 266.76 | 376.46 | 793.48 | 70.22 | -41.10 | 72.43 |
| Kohima | 1463 | 134.19 | 376.40 | 683.89 | 1194.48 | 81.65 | 11.82 | 57.83 |
| Longleng | 562 | 0.00 | 124.13 | 245.85 | 369.98 | 65.83 | -2.42 | 44.05 |
| Mokokchung | 1615 | 1.70 | 499.69 | 825.74 | 1327.13 | 82.18 | -0.48 | 68.27 |
| Mon | 1786 | 31.50 | 418.97 | 694.07 | 1144.54 | 64.08 | -58.28 | 98.80 |
| Peren | 1651 | 140.05 | 640.23 | 627.96 | 1408.24 | 85.30 | -6.58 | 89.39 |
| Phek | 2026 | 272.17 | 625.46 | 696.06 | 1593.69 | 78.66 | -22.12 | 101.62 |
| Tuensang | 2536 | 435.15 | 529.72 | 638.67 | 1603.54 | 63.23 | -96.12 | 166.64 |
| Wokha | 1628 | 0.76 | 458.45 | 858.78 | 1317.99 | 80.96 | 12.18 | 50.98 |
| Zunheboto | 1255 | 82.57 | 355.70 | 470.11 | 908.38 | 72.38 | -29.76 | 65.06 |
| Noklak | ||||||||
| Shamator | ||||||||
| Niuland | ||||||||
| Chumoukedima | ||||||||
| Tseminyu | ||||||||
| Grand Total | 16579.00 | 1272.04 | 4449.07 | 6530.03 | 12251.14 | 808.10 | -235.26 | 824.30 |
* Comparison with the previous assessment showed a loss of 235.26 Sq. km of forest cover
Source: Nagaland Statistical Handbook 2023
District-wise Forest Cover:
(Area in Sq.Km.)
| Districts | Geographical area | 2019 Assessment | Percentage of Geographical area | Change | Scrub | |||
| Very dense forest | Mod. dense forest | Open forest | Total | |||||
| Dimapur | 927 | 24.00 | 161.71 | 406.38 | 592.09 | 63.87 | 3.09 | 9.23 |
| Kiphire | 1130 | 151.72 | 277.80 | 405.06 | 834.58 | 73.86 | -0.42 | 62.35 |
| Kohima | 1463 | 131.70 | 377.68 | 673.28 | 1182.66 | 80.84 | -3.34 | 57.60 |
| Longleng | 562 | 0.00 | 125.45 | 246.95 | 372.40 | 66.26 | -2.60 | 33.52 |
| Mokokchung | 1615 | 1.89 | 501.89 | 823.83 | 1327.61 | 82.20 | 5.61 | 22.08 |
| Mon | 1786 | 32.00 | 431.32 | 739.50 | 1202.82 | 67.35 | -4.18 | 127.00 |
| Peren | 1651 | 136.06 | 644.46 | 634.30 | 1414.82 | 85.69 | -23.18 | 76.66 |
| Phek | 2026 | 272.61 | 637.83 | 705.37 | 1615.81 | 79.75 | -8.19 | 85.34 |
| Tuensang | 2536 | 438.57 | 547.10 | 713.99 | 1699.66 | 67.02 | 26.66 | 92.35 |
| Wokha | 1628 | 1.00 | 465.13 | 839.68 | 1305.81 | 80.21 | -0.19 | 10.47 |
| Zunheboto | 1255 | 83.64 | 363.35 | 491.15 | 938.14 | 74.75 | 4.14 | 58.89 |
| Total | 16579 | 1273.19 | 4533.72 | 6679.49 | 12486.40 | 75.31 | -2.60 | 635.49 |
| Districts | Geographical area | 2017 Assessment | Percentage of Geographical area | Change | Scrub | |||
| Very dense forest | Mod. dense forest | Open forest | Total | |||||
| Dimapur | 927 | 24 | 163 | 402 | 589 | 63.54 | 0 | 6 |
| Kiphire | 1130 | 152 | 285 | 398 | 835 | 73.89 | -53 | 62 |
| Kohima | 1463 | 132 | 381 | 673 | 1186 | 81.07 | -39 | 58 |
| Longleng | 562 | 0 | 127 | 248 | 375 | 66.73 | -20 | 34 |
| Mokokchung | 1615 | 2 | 504 | 816 | 1322 | 81.86 | -20 | 29 |
| Mon | 1786 | 32 | 434 | 741 | 1207 | 67.58 | -59 | 95 |
| Peren | 1651 | 137 | 659 | 642 | 1438 | 8.71 | -32 | 56 |
| Phek | 2026 | 274 | 643 | 707 | 1624 | 80.16 | -57 | 68 |
| Tuensang | 2536 | 441 | 554 | 678 | 1673 | 65.97 | -99 | 32 |
| Wokha | 1628 | 1 | 468 | 837 | 1306 | 80.22 | -33 | 8 |
| Zunheboto | 1255 | 84 | 369 | 481 | 934 | 74.42 | -38 | 55 |
| Total | 16579 | 1279 | 4587 | 6623 | 12489 | 75.33 | -450 | 503 |
| Districts | Geographical area | 2015 Assessment | Percentage of Geographical area | Change | Scrub | |||
| Very dense forest | Mod. dense forest | Open forest | Total | |||||
| Dimapur | 758 | 0 | 73 | 338 | 411 | 54.22 | -16 | 2 |
| Kohima | 3283 | 290 | 1130 | 1443 | 2863 | 87.21 | -34 | 115 |
| Mokokchung | 1615 | 3 | 514 | 827 | 1344 | 83.22 | -16 | 39 |
| Mon | 1786 | 32 | 446 | 792 | 1270 | 71.11 | -67 | 136 |
| Phek | 2026 | 275 | 652 | 757 | 1684 | 83.12 | -8 | 77 |
| Tuensang | 4228 | 610 | 1014 | 1458 | 3084 | 72.89 | -44 | 171 |
| Wokha | 1628 | 1 | 483 | 865 | 1340 | 82.31 | -14 | 13 |
| Zunheboto | 1255 | 85 | 383 | 504 | 972 | 77.45 | -13 | 69 |
| Total | 16579 | 1296 | 4695 | 6975 | 12966 | 78.21 | -78 | 622 |
| Districts | Geographical area | 2013 Assessment | Percentage of Geographical area | Change | Scrub | |||
| Very dense forest | Mod. dense forest | Open forest | Total | |||||
| Dimapur | 758 | 0 | 75 | 352 | 427 | 56.33 | 35 | 0 |
| Kohima | 3283 | 289 | 1136 | 1472 | 2897 | 88.24 | -26 | 0 |
| Mokokchung | 1615 | 6 | 519 | 835 | 1360 | 84.21 | 11 | 0 |
| Mon | 1786 | 32 | 451 | 720 | 1203 | 67.36 | -36 | 1 |
| Phek | 2026 | 276 | 652 | 764 | 1692 | 83.51 | -75 | 0 |
| Tuensang | 4228 | 609 | 1027 | 1490 | 3126 | 73.94 | -106 | 1 |
| Wokha | 1628 | 1 | 491 | 862 | 1354 | 83.17 | -24 | 0 |
| Zunheboto | 1255 | 85 | 385 | 515 | 985 | 78.49 | -53 | 0 |
| Total | 16579 | 1298 | 4736 | 7010 | 13044 | 78.68 | -274 | 2 |
| Districts | Geographical area | 2011 Assessment | Percentage of Geographical area | Change | Scrub | |||
| Very dense forest | Mod. dense forest | Open forest | Total | |||||
| Dimapur | 758 | 0 | 75 | 317 | 392 | 51.72 | -9 | 0 |
| Kohima | 3283 | 288 | 1146 | 1489 | 2923 | 89.03 | 58 | 0 |
| Mokokchung | 1615 | 3 | 521 | 825 | 1349 | 83.53 | -46 | 0 |
| Mon | 1786 | 33 | 482 | 724 | 1239 | 69.37 | -55 | 1 |
| Phek | 2026 | 279 | 675 | 813 | 1767 | 87.22 | 56 | 0 |
| Tuensang | 4228 | 603 | 1112 | 1517 | 3232 | 76.44 | -108 | 2 |
| Wokha | 1628 | 1 | 504 | 873 | 1378 | 84.64 | -36 | 0 |
| Zunheboto | 1255 | 86 | 416 | 536 | 1038 | 82.71 | -6 | 0 |
| Total | 16579 | 1293 | 4931 | 7094 | 13318 | 80.33 | -146 | 3 |
Source: India State of Forest Report 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019
Classification of Forest areas, 2022-23:
(Area In Sq. km)
| Description | Area in Hectares | Forest Area (Sq. Km) | % Against area under Forest Deptt. | % Aganist area under Geographical Area of 16579 Sq. Km |
| Reserved Forest | 23375.50 | 233.76 | 2.78% | 1.41% |
| Purchased Forest/ Donated Land | 22299.35 | 222.99 | 2.65% | 1.35% |
| Total Forest Department Controlled land | 456.75 | |||
| Unclassed Forest | 34392.48 | 343.92 | ||
| Village owned Forest | 762107.0 | 7621.07 | ||
| 8421.74 | ||||
| Total Government Controlled Land Against Village Owned Land : | 456.75 | 5.99% | ||
| 7621.07 | ||||
Source: Nagaland Statistical Handbook 2023
Classification of Forest Areas, 2017-18 and 2018-19:
(In Sq. Km)
| Sl. No. | Particulars | 2017-2018 | 2018-2019 | ||
| Forest Area | % of Total Forest | Forest Area | % of Total Forest | ||
| Legal Status | |||||
| a) | Government Owned Forest | ||||
| 1 | Reserved Forest and Wildlife Sanctuaries | 264.28 | 3.06 | 264.28 | 3.06 |
| 2 | Protected Forest | 34.69 | 0.40 | 34.69 | 0.40 |
| 3 | Purchased Forest | 192.47 | 2.20 | 192.47 | 2.20 |
| b) | Government Controlled (Private owned) Forest | ||||
| 4 | Protected Forest | 516.79 | 5.98 | 516.79 | 5.98 |
| c) | Village Owned Forest | ||||
| 5 | Virgin Forest | 4778.27 | 55.40 | 4778.27 | 55.40 |
| 6 | Degraded Forest | 2842.80 | 32.90 | 2842.80 | 32.90 |
| Total (a+b+c) | 8629.30 | 100 | 8629.30 | 100 | |
| d) | Ownership | ||||
| i) | State Government | 1008.23 | 11.70 | 1008.23 | 11.70 |
| ii) | Private Control | 7621.07 | 88.30 | 7621.07 | 88.30 |
| Total | 8629.30 | 100.00 | 8629.30 | 100.00 | |
Source: Statistical Handbook Nagaland 2019
Area under Forest, 2012-13 to 2014-15:
(Area in Hectares)
2014-2015 | ||||||||
| Sl. No. | District | Reserved Forest | Purchased Forest | Protected Forest | Degraded Forest | Wildlife Forest | National Park | Total Forest |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 1 | Kohima | - | 3926.01 | 923.00 | 76180.00 | - | - | 101498.01 |
| 2 | Peren | - | 267.00 | - | - | - | 20202.00 | |
| 3 | Mon | - | 7345.05 | - | 32000.00 | 2357.00 | - | 41702.05 |
| 4 | Mokokchung | - | 4548.79 | 428.00 | 24000.00 | - | - | 28976.79 |
| 5 | Zunheboto | - | 40.00 | 645.50 | 18000.00 | - | - | 18685.50 |
| 6 | Wokha | - | 693.12 | 598.85 | 24000.00 | - | - | 25291.97 |
| 7 | Phek | - | 761.59 | 20731.77 | 35100.00 | - | - | 56593.36 |
| 8 | Dimapur | 6226.00 | 812.38 | - | - | 470.00 | - | 7508.38 |
| 9 | Tuensang Longleng Kiphire | - | 852.69 | 973.18 | 75000.00 | 642.00 | - | 77467.87 |
| Total | 6226.00 | 19246.63 | 24300.30 | 284280.00 | 3469.00 | 20202.00 | 357723.93 | |
2013-2014 | ||||||||
| Sl. No. | District | Reserved Forest | Purchased Forest | Protected Forest | Degraded Forest | Wildlife Forest | National Park | Total Forest |
| 1 | Kohima | - | 3926.01 | 923.00 | 76180.00 | - | - | 101498.01 |
| 2 | Peren | - | 267.00 | - | - | - | 20202.00 | |
| 3 | Mon | - | 7345.05 | - | 32000.00 | 2357.00 | - | 41702.05 |
| 4 | Mokokchung | - | 4548.79 | 428.00 | 24000.00 | - | - | 28976.79 |
| 5 | Zunheboto | - | 40.00 | 645.50 | 18000.00 | - | - | 18685.50 |
| 6 | Wokha | - | 693.12 | 598.85 | 24000.00 | - | - | 25291.97 |
| 7 | Phek | - | 761.59 | 20731.77 | 35100.00 | - | - | 56593.36 |
| 8 | Dimapur | 6226.00 | 812.38 | 973.18 | - | 470.00 | - | 8481.56 |
| 9 | Tuensang Longleng Kiphire | - | 852.69 | - | 75000.00 | 642.00 | - | 76494.69 |
| Total | 6226.00 | 19246.63 | 24300.30 | 284280.00 | 3469.00 | 20202.00 | 357723.93 | |
2012-2013 | ||||||||
| Sl. No. | District | Reserved Forest | Purchased Forest | Protected Forest | Degraded Forest | Wildlife Forest | National Park | Total Forest |
| 1 | Kohima | - | 3926.01 | 923.00 | 76180.00 | - | - | 101498.01 |
| 2 | Peren | - | 267.00 | - | - | - | 20202.00 | |
| 3 | Mon | - | 7345.05 | - | 32000.00 | 2357.00 | - | 41702.05 |
| 4 | Mokokchung | - | 4548.79 | 428.00 | 24000.00 | - | - | 28976.79 |
| 5 | Zunheboto | - | 40.00 | 645.50 | 18000.00 | - | - | 18685.50 |
| 6 | Wokha | - | 693.12 | 598.85 | 24000.00 | - | - | 25291.97 |
| 7 | Phek | - | 761.59 | 20731.77 | 35100.00 | - | - | 56593.36 |
| 8 | Dimapur | 6226.00 | 812.38 | 973.18 | - | 470.00 | - | 8481.56 |
| 9 | Tuensang Longleng Kiphire | - | 852.69 | - | 75000.00 | 642.00 | - | 76494.69 |
| Total | 6226.00 | 19246.63 | 24300.30 | 284280.00 | 3469.00 | 20202.00 | 357723.93 | |
Sources: Statistical Handbook of Nagaland 2015 and 2016
Revenue and Expenditure of the Forest Department, 1998-99 to 2015-16:
(Rs. in Lakhs.)
| Year | Revenue | Expenditure | Total | |
| Plan | Non-Plan | |||
| 1998-1999 | 291.83 | 363.78 | 700.37 | 1064.15 |
| 1999-2000 | 166.25 | 285.25 | 809.26 | 1094.51 |
| 2000-2001 | 257.67 | 265.67 | 923.50 | 1189.17 |
| 2001-2002 | 200.55 | 464.21 | 960.97 | 1425.18 |
| 2002-2003 | 263.00 | 261.00 | 1180.00 | 1441.00 |
| 2003-2004 | 269.00 | 218.49 | 1396.82 | 1615.31 |
| 2004-2005 | 355.81 | 660.00 | 1595.60 | 2255.60 |
| 2006-2007 | 555.37 | 1335.00 | 1642.22 | 2977.22 |
| 2007-2008 | 425.53 | 1780.00 | 1819.13 | 3599.13 |
| 2008-2009 | 467.49 | 2173.73 | 2331.00 | 4504.73 |
| 2009-2010 | 526.67 | 2721.56 | 2657.98 | 5379.54 |
| 2011-2012 | 386.27 | 4019.00 | 4047.16 | 8066.16 |
| 2012-2013 | 370.06 | 4385.55 | 4304.8 | 8690.35 |
| 2013-2014 | 381.63 | 3570.97 | 4730.13 | 8301.10 |
| 2014-2015 | 552.62 | 408.00 | 8789.80 | 9197.80 |
| 2015-2016 | 46576128 | 75.00 | 5878.89 | 5953.89 |
Source: Statistical Handbook of Nagaland 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016
- Forest and Tree Resources in the State of Nagaland (India State of Forest Report 2019):
- Forest and Tree Resources in the State of Nagaland (India State of Forest Report 2017):
- Forest and Tree Resources in the State of Nagaland (India State of Forest Report 2015):
- Forest and Tree Resources in the State of Nagaland (India State of Forest Report 2013):
- Forest and Tree Resources in the State of Nagaland (India State of Forest Report 2011):