The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had sent this analysis based on the data provided by the Forest Survey of India and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to several prominent individuals and government and non-government office-holders requesting them to forward their comments on the article. Among 10 people that were approached, only six responded to CSE's queries.

The most notable of those who did not respond were Union minister for environment and forests Saifuddin Soz and Additional Inspector-General of Forests S C Dey.