India's Forest and Tree Cover
25.17% of India’s area is under forest (21.76%) and tree cover (3.41%).
Increment since SFR 2021:
Forest cover: +1,445 sq. km
Tree cover: Marginal increase from 2.91% to 3.41%.
National Forest Policy, 1988 target: 33% of geographical area under forest and tree cover.
State-wise Trends
Top performers (increase in cover):
Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha.
Significant losses:
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Ladakh, Nagaland.
Sensitive Areas and Ecosystems
Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area (WGESA)
Loss of 58.22 sq. km forest cover in the last decade.
Shift in forest types:
Increase in very dense forests (≥70% canopy density).
Decline in moderately dense (40-70%) and open forests (10-40%).
The Nilgiris
Loss of 123.44 sq. km forest cover (2013-2023).
Forest fires increased fourfold from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
Mangroves
Occupy 0.15% of India’s geographical area.
Overall decrease of 7.43 sq. km (since 2021).
Gains: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra.
Losses: Gujarat’s Kutch region.
Importance: Stabilizes coastlines, mitigates erosion, and buffers against cyclones.
Northeast India
Covers 21% of India’s forest/tree cover despite being <8% of the land area.
Loss of 327.3 sq. km since SFR 2021.
Criticisms and Concerns
Definitions and Measurement Issues
Forest definition includes orchards, bamboo, and palm, conflating natural forests with monocultures.
Misrepresentation of forest health and degradation.
“Celebratory statistics” obscure real deforestation trends.
Data Gaps
Absence of critical ecological indicators:
Forest fragmentation.
Biodiversity health.
No mechanisms to track ecosystem losses caused by deforestation or land-use changes.
Carbon Stock and Quality
India’s carbon stock increased by 81.5 million tonnes (2021-2023).
Growing stock increased by 4.25%.
No clarity on the quality of forests contributing to these increases.
Link to Climate Action
India aims to increase carbon stock by 2.5-3 billion tonnes by 2030.
Current carbon stock: 30.4 billion tonnes.
SFR plays a role in tracking contributions to this target but lacks insight into the degradation of ecosystems, which undermines climate goals.
Way Forward
Focus on Native Forests: Prioritize preservation and restoration of natural forests over monocultures.
Enhanced Monitoring: Incorporate biodiversity and forest health metrics into assessments.
Adapt Ecosystem-Specific Strategies: Avoid tree-planting initiatives in ecosystems unsuitable for forests.
Address Regional Trends: Special attention to sensitive areas like the Western Ghats, Northeast, and mangrove regions.
Broader Implications
The SFR underscores both the progress and challenges in India’s journey towards sustainable forest management and climate action.
Balancing quantity with quality remains crucial to achieving ecological and climate resilience.
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