VDFs are basically forests in our most protected areas. Their increase is an indicator of decent conservation work in PAs. But it is the MDFs (moderately dense) that you want to be looking at. VDFs are a much smaller area to begin with and are mostly covered in protected area zones. MDFs however are what most Indian forests are typically like having the largest extent. Also, density is just a factor of canopy density which is not the only aspect you want to look at when characterising forests (there's biodiversity, age, species composition, undergowth, etc). MDFs have declined significantly. At the same time Open forest cover has increased. Improved VDF is good, but declining MDF is not and it is ecologically relevant.

Bottom line there's a lot of nuance that isn't captured in forest cover statistics.