GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The term ‘Forest Area’ (or recorded forest area) generally refers to all the geographic areas recorded as forest in government records. On the other hand, the term ‘Forest Cover’ refers to all lands more than 1 hectare in area, having a tree canopy density of more than 10%.

Detailed explanation-2: -Thus the term ‘forest area’ denotes the legal status of the land as per the government records, whereas the term ‘forest cover’ indicates presence of trees over any land.

Detailed explanation-3: -The forest area is the area notified and recorded as the forest land irrespective of the existence of trees, while the actual forest cover is the area occupied by forests with canopy.

Detailed explanation-4: -The contractor made contract with the government to cut down all the trees from the forest and to build big dams. That is why he did not allow Suryamani’s people to go into the forest and collect anything from there.