Global Forest Watch (GFW), India lost 18,200 hectares (ha) of primary forest in 2024, up from 17,700 hectares in 2023

Worldwide Discoveries

Loss of tropical primary forests: 6.7 million hectares lost worldwide – almost twice the figures from 2023.

Fires Exceed Agriculture as Main Cause: For the first time in more than twenty years, fires emerged as the leading factor behind tropical forest loss, responsible for nearly 50% of the total.

The interplay of climate change and El Niño resulted in unprecedented heat and drought, fostering conditions conducive to wildfires.

Regional Effects: Brazil represented 42% of worldwide tropical forest destruction.

Bolivia saw a 200% rise in deforestation, overtaking the Democratic Republic of Congo for the first time.

Indian Results

Overall Tree Cover Loss Declines: India experienced a 6.9% reduction in total tree cover loss from 2023 to 2024, suggesting advancement in forest conservation initiatives.

Rise in Humid Primary Forest Depletion: In contrast, the loss of humid primary forests rose by 5.9% in 2024, underscoring persistent difficulties in safeguarding old-growth forests.

Increase in Forest Loss Due to Fire: Fire-related primary forest loss soared to 950 hectares in 2024, reflecting a 158% rise compared to last year.

Regional Hotspots: The Northeastern states, such as Assam, Nagaland, and Mizoram, have been the hardest hit, mainly because of shifting agriculture, expansion of farming, and logging activities.

As per the UN Food and Agriculture Organization: India experienced the second highest level of deforestation globally from 2015 to 2020, with an annual loss of approximately 6,68,000 hectares of forest.

What actions is India taking to address deforestation?

Regulatory and Legal Actions:

Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (Revised 2023): Governs the conversion of forest land for non-forest uses, with recent revisions intended to simplify procedures.

National Forest Policy, 1988: Seeks to ensure that a minimum of 33% of India’s land area is covered by forests or trees.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (CAMPA): Guarantees that funds gathered from diverting forest land are utilized for reforestation and ecological restoration.

Programs for Planting New Forests and Restoring Existing Ones:

Green India Mission: A component of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, aimed at improving forest coverage and ecosystem services.

State-Level Initiatives: For example, Uttar Pradesh’s initiative to plant 35 crore saplings by 2025 to enhance green cover.

Community Involvement and Entitlements:

Joint Forest Management (JFM): Cooperative management of forests that engages local communities and forestry departments.

Forest Rights Act, 2006: Acknowledges the rights of communities living in forests, enabling them to oversee and protect forest areas.

Technological Measures:

Satellite Oversight: Use of satellite information for live tracking of forest area and unlawful actions.

Mobile Apps: Creation of applications such as ‘My Plants’ to log planting information and involve the community in reforestation initiatives.

Global Partnerships:

Forest-PLUS 3.0: A collaboration between the U.S. and India focused on improving sustainable forestry methods and boosting climate resilience.

Path Forward

Empower Local Communities: Speed up the acknowledgment of Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006, guaranteeing that forest-dwelling communities hold legal power to steward and protect their ancestral forests.

Utilize Technology for Oversight and Control: Deploy AI-driven systems and satellite imagery for immediate tracking of forest conditions, animal movements, and unlawful actions, improving reaction and enforcement.

Enhance Legal and Policy Structures: Thoroughly evaluate recent changes to the Forest Conservation Act to ensure they align development demands with environmental protection, upholding strict safeguards for primary forests.