CHANDIGARH: Devastating floods in Punjab have severely hampered the state’s desperate efforts to expand its diminishing green cover. The forest and wildlife preservation department has reported the loss of 4,94,956 trees over nearly 776 hectares in the current floods – the worst in 37 years.The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 estimates the state’s forest cover at 1,846 sq km, just 3.7% of its geographical area of about 50.3 lakh hectares. With nearly 83% of the land under cultivation, there is little scope for expanding forest cover.The forest department has pegged the damage at about Rs 341.3 lakh. However, officials cautioned that these are only preliminary estimates, and the figure may rise once the floodwaters recede and the full extent of destruction is assessed. A memorandum prepared by principal chief conservator of forests Dharminder Sharma for submission to the inter-ministerial central team also noted damage to 10 departmental buildings, adding another Rs 19.2 lakh in losses. The total damage has been assessed at over Rs 360.5 lakh. “Once the situation improves, a detailed plan will be drawn up to overcome the damage caused to the green cover by the floods,” Sharma said.Experts caution the floods have deepened Punjab’s ecological stress. With forest cover already among the lowest in the country, the loss of plantations under state-run afforestation schemes is expected to further slow efforts to restore ecological balance.