Deforestation has led to a loss of about 40 percent of forest land. Trees are cut for the purpose of obtaining or to clear the forest area to make way for agricultural land. In the twentieth century, about 30 percent of the land was covered by the forest in India which reduced to 19% by the end of the century. National Forest Policy has recommended that at least 33 percent of plains and 67 percent of hills of India should be covered by forest.