Forest Department Himachal Pradesh celebrates Van Mahotsava every year in July of rainy season. The purpose of celebrating Van Mahotsava is to sensitize people towards forest protection, conservation and also to spread awareness about the nature. The goal of the department is to increase the green cover of the State from the present 27.72% which is 15434sq km to 30 percent of its geographical area by year 2030 by adding 1368 sq. Km of forest cover and through plantation programs, the Forest department is striving to achieve this target. Earlier also with departmental plantation and forest conservation programs, the forest cover of the state has increased by 1074 sq. km in the last two decades since 2001 as confirmed in the various Indian State of Forest Reports of the Forest Survey of India.