Affidavit on behalf of Union Territory of Puducherry in the matter of a news item titled "India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000 Global Forest Watch" which appeared in the Indian Express, April 13, 2024.

The report dated April 25, 2025 said that there is no loss of green cover in Puducherry.

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As per the India - State of Forest Report, 2023 prepared by the Forest Survey of India, the total forest cover (inside and outside recorded forest area) in Puducherry is 44.31 sq km. Further, forest cover increased in the union territory from 2001 to 2015. However, between the years 2017 to 2019, a decreased trend of forest cover has been shown. By the year 2021, an increasing trend of forest cover was again witnessed.

The probable factors responsible for reduction/fluctuation of forest cover and tree cover are climatic changes including periodic cyclones, urbanisation and pollution. The factors lead to biotic and abiotic changes which influence or impact forest/tree cover. For instance, biotic agents such as invasive alien flora and fauna entering the ecosystem lead to either loss of the native species or to reduction in their number and distribution over a period. Plantation of indigenous tree species in the urban and rural areas is being taken up for the conservation of forest ecosystem and management of forests and tree cover in Puducherry. Awareness programmes are another way to enhance people participation in and community ownership of greening activities.