According to the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-26, the ecological outlook of Maharashtra presents a mixed picture, with gains in tree cover and wildlife conservation, contrasting with signs of degradation in core forest ecosystems and worsening pollution in major rivers.
The survey was presented to the state legislature on Thursday.
It indicates that while targeted conservation programs and social forestry initiatives have improved certain environmental indicators, forest degradation, rapid urbanization, and inadequate sewage treatment continue to strain the state's ecological systems.
According to the survey, Maharashtra's total forest cover is 50,859 sq km, which accounts for 16.5% of its geographical area of 3,07,713 sq km. This remains significantly below the 33% benchmark set under the National Forest Policy.
Compared to the 2021 assessment, the state saw a reduction of 54.47 sq km in forest cover, according to the survey report, explaining that "forest area" and "tree cover" are distinct categories and cannot be used interchangeably when assessing environmental health.
"Forest area" refers to land legally designated as forest by the government, including Reserved or Protected Forests. Such areas may not necessarily have dense vegetation and can include landscapes with little or no tree growth, such as alpine pastures, wetlands, or degraded tracts.
"Tree cover," on the other hand, refers to small patches of trees less than one hectare in size or scattered trees outside recorded forests. These include plantations, roadside trees, and linear patches along canals or fields that do not form part of a natural forest ecosystem.
The survey notes that Maharashtra has the most tree cover outside forests in the country. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the state has 14,525 sq km of tree cover, which accounts for 4.7% of its geographical area.
This figure has steadily increased over the past decade, from 10,806 sq km in 2019 to 12,108 sq km in 2021, and then to 14,525 sq km in 2023. This growth is largely attributed to social forestry programs, urban greening initiatives, and plantation efforts.
However, environmental analysts cited in the survey caution that an increase in tree cover does not necessarily offset the ecological loss caused by degradation of natural forests, which support more complex biodiversity and play a more significant role in carbon storage and ecosystem stability.
According to the latest assessment cited in the survey, 19.4% of Maharashtra's forests are classified as very dense, 42.4% as moderately dense, and 38.2% as open forests.
The survey also notes that environmental pressures such as industrialization, urban expansion, and deforestation are contributing to climate anomalies in the state, including rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.
However, certain ecological indicators show improvement.
Maharashtra has 315.09 sq km of mangrove cover, which accounts for about 6.3% of India's total mangrove area. To strengthen protection, the state has designated 11,548 hectares of mangroves as reserved forests.
Wildlife conservation efforts have also yielded positive results. According to the survey, the tiger population in Maharashtra increased from 312 in 2018 to 444 in 2022.
Despite these gains, the survey highlights serious concerns regarding water pollution and waste management.
Major rivers in the state continue to experience severe ecological stress. Data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board cited in the survey shows that the Mithi river in Mumbai records extremely high pollution levels, with "biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) measured at 101.8 mg per litre and faecal coliform levels at 1,882.2 mg per litre".
Similarly, the Mula-Mutha river in Pune continues to record high BOD and faecal coliform levels, indicating sustained contamination from untreated sewage and urban discharge.
A major factor behind river pollution is the gap in sewage treatment capacity. According to the survey, only 51.4% of the sewage generated in the state was treated during 2025-26 up to December, meaning nearly half of the wastewater continues to be discharged untreated into rivers and other water bodies.
The state has performed relatively better in managing solid waste. Out of 5.44 lakh metric tonnes of solid waste generated daily in 2024-25, about 81.8% was treated, according to the survey.
The government has launched initiatives such as the ‘Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyaan’, which involves more than 27,000 gram panchayats, to promote environmental awareness and expand green cover.
However, the survey's findings suggest that while such initiatives are producing visible improvements in areas such as tree plantations and wildlife conservation, they have yet to fully counter the environmental pressures created by rapid economic growth and urbanization.