ENVIS Hub: Sikkim
Status of Environment and Related Issues

Forest is one of the richest natural resources of Sikkim. With luxuriant forest abounding in all part of state, Forestry has been the major land use in the State and 82.31% of the total geographical area of the State is under the administrative control of the State Forest Department. The total forest cover of the State as per the latest India State of Forest Report 2021 is 3341.03 (47.08%) and tree cover is 39 sq. km. Total forest and tree cover accounts to 47.63% of the total geographical area of the state.  The composition ranges from tropical Dry Deciduous Forests with Sal and its associates in the valleys of Teesta and Rangit to the Alpine Scrub and grassland in high altitude.

 

» See India State of Forest Report 2021 - Sikkim

» See FSI - India State of Forest Report 2021 
 

 

• License fee for running quarry in private lands by the general public/ individual per annum w.e.f 01/02/2025 
• Royalty Rates and Fees on various Forest Produce and Services : Revised Rates (with effect from 13/09/2024) of Royalty on different categories of timbers/trees and other forest produce like sand, stone, etc. Revised Import fees, Entry fees to PAs and W/L sanctuaries, etc. (Notification dated 12/09/2024)
• Private Quarry License Processing Time Lines : Office Order dated 14.08.2024 of Forest and Environment Department, Government of Sikkim in regard to time lines for renewal and processing of private quarry licenses at various levels.
• Sikkim Gazette No 445 dated 22/11/2023: Notification in regard to Reorganization of Forest Divisions/ Sub-Divisions/ Ranges/ Blocks and RF demarcation 
• Sikkim Payment for Ecosystem Services Rules, 2022 (Sikkim Government Gazette Notification dated 18/07/2022)  
• Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity and Reverence) Rules, 2017: In order to promote and revive the age-old tradition of forging brotherhood relationship with trees, the State Government has notified Sikkim Forest Trees (Amity and Reverence) Rules, 2017 that allows any person to associate with trees standing on his or her private land or on any public land by entering into a Mith/Mit or Mitini relationship with a tree or trees, in which case, the tree shall be called a ‘Mith/ Mit tree’; or by adopting a tree as if it was his or her own child in which case the tree shall be called an ‘Adopted tree’; or by preserving a tree in remembrance of a departed relative in which case the tree shall be called a ‘Smriti tree’. See the notification 
• The Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017: Bamboo not a 'tree' any more 
• Heritage Trees of Sikkim 
• Sikkim Government Gazette Notification No. 431 dated 15/11/2016: Schedule of Rates for Logging and Conversion Works w.e.f 1st October 2016 
• Sikkim Government Gazette Notification No. 90 dated 31/03/2016 : Revised Rates (with effect from 01/04/2016) of Royalty on different categories of timbers/trees and other forest produce like sand, stone, etc. Revised Import fees, Entry fees to PAs and W/L sanctuaries, etc. 
• Schedule of Rates to recover the payment towards cutting, feeling, logging and transportation of the project affected trees and forest produce from the User Agency [Notification dated 23/2/2009]...... Click Here
• Sikkim Private and Other Non-Forest Lands Tree Felling Rules 2006 (Procedure for applying for Tree Felling on Private and Non-Forest land)
• The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) ACT, 2006
• Sikkim Forest (Transit of Timber and Other Forest Produce) Rules, 1999 (Procedure for applying for Transit Permit for Forest Produce)
• Status of Forest Nurseries and Future Action Plan 2009-10
• Environment Clearance of Development Projects in Sikkim

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JFMCs/ EDCs 

• Notification No. 213 dated 11/06/2016: Rationalization, Re-organization and Re-constitution (3R's) of 162 JMFCs and 64 EDCs in Sikkim
  
• Notification No. 214 dated 11/06/2016: Schedule of General Body Meetings and Executive Commitee Meetings
• 3R's of JMFC and EDC in Sikkim (PPT)
• Notification No. 150 dated 27/05/2006: Universalization of JFMC order
• Read more on State Forest Development Agency. Click here

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Forest Statistics (Source: Forest Survey of India, Dehradun) 

• State of Forest Report 2021 - Sikkim 
• State of Forest Report 2019 - Sikkim 
• State of Forest Report 2017 - Sikkim  
• State of Forest Report 2015 - Sikkim 
• State of Forest Report 2013 - Sikkim  
• State of Forest Report 2011 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2009 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2005 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2003 - Sikkim
• Sikkim Forest, Wildife, Biodiveristy - STATISTICS 2003
• Status of Forest Land Diversion cases 1980-2005

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Forest Types of Sikkim

• Forest Cover Mapping
• Forest Type and Density Classes
• Vegetation Types

[Source: Joint Collaboration Project of Forest Deptt., Govt. of Sikkim and Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Kharagpur, Indian Space Research Organization, Department of Space, Government of India]

 

Sl no	Groups	Characteristic Species	Altitude (mts)	Places
1.	Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
		Dillenia pentagyna Dysoxylum floribundum Gymnema arborea Lagerostroemia patviflora Shorea robusta Toona ciliata	250-900	Rangpo Chhu, Sherwani,  Jorethang, Rangit
2.	Sub-Tropical Forest
	i)Sub-Tropical     Broad Leaved     Forest	Albizia procera, Alnus Nepalensis, Bauhinia purpurea Castanopsis indica,  Macaranga denticulata,  Michelia champaca, Schima wallichii	1000-2000	Tong,Gyalzing, Sangklang Selem Chakung Chhu.
	ii)Sub-Tropical     Pine forests	Pinus roxburghii, Engelhardtia colebrookiana Quercus leucotrichophora	1000-1800	Gangtok, Gyalzing,     Rongli
3.	Montantane Wet Temperate Forest
	i)Temperate     Broad Leaved     Forests	Acer campbellii, Engelhardtia spicata, Machilus edulis, Michelia cathcartii, Quercus lamellose, Taxus baccata	1700-2700	Chunthang- Lachung, Yumthang
	ii)Mixed Coniferous     temperate forest     Forest	Abies densa,         Acer campbellii,  Betula utiis, Rhododendron, arboreum,Abies densa, Taxus baccata,    Tsuga dumosa,     Larix   griffithianum	2700-3000	Lachen, Zemu, Yathang, Lachung
4.	Sub-Alpine Forest
		Abies densa,       Betula utiis,      Casiope fastigata, Rhododendron sp.	Above 3000	Above Yathang
5.	a)Moist Alpine
	i) Birch-     Rhododendron     Scrub Forest	Betula utilis, Sorbus foliolosa, Rhododendron campanulatum,	Above 3600	Thangu, Maiminchu
	ii) Deciduous     Alpine Scrub	Betula utilis,   Berberis sp.,  Lonicera sp.,        Rosa sp	3600-3900	Changu      Thangu
	iii) Dwarf     Rhododendron     Scrub	Rhododendron lepidotum	Above 3600	Thangu
	iv) Alpine pastures	Allium, Anemone, Delphinium	Above 4000	Chopta  Yumasong
	b) Dry Alpine Scrub
	i) Dwarf Juniperous scrub	Juniperusrecurva J. wallichiana	Above 3600	Chopta    Chhangu
	ii) Dry alpine scrub	Ephedra gerardiana, Meconopsis sp.,  Ribes sp.	Above 4000	Chopta

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Also See

 

• State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) 
• Sikkim Forests Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project (SBFP) - JICA assisted

 

 

Grazing control: The Government has imposed a ban on grazing within the Reserve Forest, Plantation areas and Water sources  areas with a view to encourage regeneration of forest resources, augment rural water supplies and develop degraded lands. The beneficial effects of this policy are already manifested in the form of improved supplies of water in the villages bordering the Forest areas, regeneration of degraded forest land and enhancement if overall natural resources status. A number of Gots have been removed and the cattle have been impounded & fined along with the wide publicity & awareness.