India increases forest cover, but northeastern states report loss

The tree cover also increased by 721 sq km, which accounts for 2.91% of the geographical area. Overall, there has been an increase in overall forest and tree cover by 2,261 sq km (0.28%) as compared to 2019.

But, almost all the northeastern states reported reduction in forest cover – Arunachal Pradesh lost 257 sq km, Manipur 249 sq km, Nagaland 235 sq km, Mizoram 186 sq km and Meghalaya 73 sq km. The loss in forest cover and decline in forest canopy can be attributed to shifting cultivation, felling of trees, natural disasters, human pressure and development activities, the report said.

The states which have got forest cover include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Karnataka and Jharkhand. The gains can be attributed to better conservation measures, afforestation activities, tree plantation drives and agro-forestry.

Environment ministry officials said the northeastern states are losing forest cover mainly because they are vulnerable to natural calamities like landslides and erosion.

Another worrying finding is that there has been a loss of 1,582 sq km in moderately dense forests (land with 40-70 percent tree canopy density). 2,621 sq km have been gained in open forests (all land with canopy density of more than 10-40% trees); An advantage of 242 km in shrub forests (forest land with canopy density less than 10%), and an advantage of about 501 km in very dense forests (tree canopy density above 70%).

The mangrove cover has also increased by about 17 sq km as compared to 2019. Mangrove cover has marginally improved in Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Goa, but has reduced by 2 sq km in Gujarat.

Madhya Pradesh has the highest forest cover in the country with 77,493 sq km, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.

The total growing stock from forests and out of forest trees is about 6,167.50 million cubic metres. The growing stock has increased by 251.74 million cubic meters compared to 2019. Growing stock determines the amount of forest resources and is an indicator of forest productivity.

The survey defines forests as all land of more than 1 hectare in an area, including trees, orchards, bamboos, palms, etc., that occur on government and private land. Thus, the FSI does not differentiate between old-growth natural forests and plantations or orchards.

“I have repeatedly highlighted through my research papers and various other forums that in India, we do not know the extent of natural forests. It is very important that we first distinguish the extent of natural forests and plantations like mango or coconut. We cannot restore our forests until we know how much natural forest we have. As you mentioned, if we are losing moderately dense forests, it is worrying because these are certainly the natural forests that we are losing because in general, you will not see a change in the plantation area. This loss is happening in the Northeast, which needs to be assessed and countered,” said NH Rabindranath, forestry expert and retired professor at the Indian Institute of Science.