The correct answer is (a) 2.56%.
Uttar Pradesh is a state in India with a total area of 243,286 square kilometers. Of this, only 2.56% is forest area. This is much lower than the national average of 21.9%. The main reason for this is the rapid growth of the population in Uttar Pradesh. The state has a population of over 200 million people, which is more than the population of many countries. This rapid growth has led to the clearing of forests for agriculture and other development activities.
The low forest cover in Uttar Pradesh has a number of negative consequences. It leads to soil erosion, water pollution, and climate change. It also has a negative impact on the biodiversity of the state. There are a number of initiatives being taken by the government of Uttar Pradesh to increase the forest cover in the state. However, these initiatives have not been very successful so far.
The other options are incorrect. Option (b) is incorrect because the forest area in Uttar Pradesh is only 2.56%, not 4.46%. Option (c) is incorrect because the forest area in Uttar Pradesh is only 2.56%, not 9.50%. Option (d) is incorrect because the forest area in Uttar Pradesh is only 2.56%, not 11.60%.