What is the difference between forest area and forest cover?

(Durga Nagpal)

There is a difference between forest area and forest cover. Geographical area recorded as forests in government records is forest area. It is also referred to as recorded forest area. All lands, more than one hectare in area with a tree canopy density of more than 10 per cent is called forest cover. Such lands may not be statutorily notified as forest area. For example, the total forest area in India is about 23.3 per cent of the total geographical area. It includes such areas also without forest cover. Areas actually covered with forests are 19.4 per cent of the total geographical area.