Forest Resource

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

Forest and Tree Cover of Sikkim

Note: In the State of Sikkim about 44 % of total geographical area is under Alpine pasture & scrub and under perpetual snow cover. Hence, in these areas, it would not be possible to bring the forest and tree cover. The area considered for the forest and tree cover may therefore be excluding these areas.

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

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

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

Forest Types of Sikkim

[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
1.		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
4.		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

Also See

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.