N-E Lost Forest Cover Equal To Thrice Delhi's Area In Last 2 Decades

The 18th edition of the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023) released on December 21, reported an increase in the country's forest cover by 156.41 sq km in the last two years.

- PIJUSH KUMAR DUTTA Faculty, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) defines "forest cover" as land with tree canopy density exceeding 10% and covering at least one hectare, which thus includes plantations. According to the report, losses in forest cover have been recorded in the Western Ghats and Eastern States Area (58.22 sq km) and the Northeast (327.30 sq km) since 2021.

An analysis of the changes in forest cover in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura in the last two decades (2003 to 2023) suggests the situation is quite alarming. According to ISFR reports (2003, 2013 and 2023), the region lost 4,490 sq km of forest cover at the average rate of 224 sq km per year despite inclusion of the area under plantation in ISFR. Total loss within the last two decades is equal to three times the area of Delhi.

Maximum loss of 2,137.43 sq km has been recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, which is 3.24% of the forest area recorded in 2003. Nagaland, which is second, lost around 1,386.53 sq km forest cover, which is 11.34% of what was recorded in 2003. Assam and Meghalaya recorded an increase in forest cover in the last two decades (487.55 and 127.84 sq km). However, two areas under Autonomous Councils in Assam, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hill recorded a total loss of around 529 sq km forest cover during the same period.