However, the rate of deforestation has slightly decreased from the earlier study conducted between 1991 and 2001. The annual denudation rate stood at 0.44 percent in the nine-year period in Tarai, while it was recorded at 1.3 percent during the previous study. The southern plains are known for dense forests.

Of the total 2.01 million hectares of Tarai forests, the far-western region has the largest green patch (30.9 percent) while at 11.5 percent the western region has the smallest.

According to the study, Sarlahi, Jhapa, Rautahat and Kapilvastu are among the districts that see highest rate of deforestation and forest degradation while Siraha and Nawalparasi districts reported an increased forest area in the period.

The analysis is based on a study covering 18 districts in the Tarai and does not cover Siwaliks, as most of these districts also extend up to the Chure region.

The findings of the report, 'Tarai Forests of Nepal 2010-2012', which is yet to be made public, presents a comprehensive and up-to-date information on forest resources in the region. The study was undertaken as part of the Forest Resource Assessment Project (2010-2014), a joint initiative of the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation and the government of Finland, to provide credible data for use in national forest policy development. The Department of Forest Research and Survey is implementing the project.

The study covered the southern belts of 18 districts—Banke, Bardiya, Bara, Dhanusha, Jhapa, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Kapilvastu, Morang, Mahottari, Nawalparasi, Parsa, Rautahat, Rupandehi, Saptari, Siraha, Sunsari and Sarlahi.

Krishna Acharya, spokesman for the Forest Ministry, said a major reason behind the decrease in the deforestation rate as compared to the 1990s was because the government and the political parties did not resettle the landless and squatters by clearing forests. Additionally, management of private forestry and community forests in some areas led to some improvement.