Jharkhand Chief Minister orders digital forest records for real‑time monitoring

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed state officials to create scientific and digital records of the region’s forest areas within a month. The plan, presented during a review of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, aims to enable real‑time tracking of forest cover, wildlife habitats and other ecological assets. Officials are to document changes in forest cover, plantations, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries since Jharkhand’s formation and develop a single‑click system that displays the current status of each forest area.

Soren highlighted recent deforestation, expanding mining activities and altered sanctuary boundaries as reasons for the digital documentation. He also ordered the department to use modern technologies to reduce human‑wildlife conflict, to devise an afforestation programme using helicopters for seed dispersal, and to promote the state’s “Plant a Tree, Get Five Units of Free Electricity” scheme to increase urban green cover.