NOT TOO long ago, most of India was clothed in forest.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/forests-and-wetlands
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/author/shekar-dattatri
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/tehelka-new-delhi
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/forests
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wetlands
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/western-ghats
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/sundarbans
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/wildlife-act-1972
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/forest-act-1980
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/karnataka
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/protected-area-conservation