ISFR-2023: Marginal Gains in Green Cover Mask Alarming Loss of Natural Forests

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Explained; Page: 17)

Analysis of News: 

What are the Key findings of ISFR 2023?

• Forest and Tree Cover: The total forest and tree cover of the country is 8,27,356.95 km2 which is 25.17% of the geographical area (GA) of the country.
  • The total Forest Cover has an area of 7,15,342.61 km2 (21.76%) whereas the Tree Cover has an area of 1,12,014.34 km2 (3.41%).
• Increase in Forest and Tree Cover: The country’s forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445.81 km², with a 156.41 km² rise in forest cover compared to 2021.
  • Maximum increase (Forest and Tree Cover): Chhattisgarh (684 sq km) followed by Uttar Pradesh (559 sq km), Odisha (559 sq km) and Rajasthan (394 sq km).
  • Maximum Increase (Forest Cover): Mizoram (242 sq km) followed by Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km). 
  • Largest Decrease: Madhya Pradesh (612.41 km²) followed by Karnataka (459.36 km²), Ladakh (159.26 km²), and Nagaland (125.22 km²).
• Top Three States: Area wise top three states having largest forest cover are Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km) and Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km).
  • In terms of percentage of forest cover with respect to total geographical area, Lakshadweep (91.33%) has the highest forest cover followed by Mizoram (85.34%) and Andaman & Nicobar Island (81.62%).
• High Forest Cover: 19 states/UTs have above 33% of the geographical area under forest cover.
  • Out of these, eight states/UTs namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A & N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75%.
• Carbon Stock: The country’s forest carbon stock is estimated at 7,285.5 million tonnes, with an increase of 81.5 million tonnes compared to 2021.
  • Top 3: Arunachal Pradesh (1,021 Mt) followed by Madhya Pradesh (608 Mt), Chhattisgarh (505 Mt) and Maharashtra (465 Mt).
  • India’s carbon stock has reached 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, exceeding the 2005 base year by 2.29 billion tonnes, nearing the 2030 target of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes.
• Regional Performance: The Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas (WGESA) covers 60,285.61 km², with 44,043.99 km² (73%) under forest cover.
  • The total forest and tree cover in the Northeastern region is 1,74,394.70 km2 , which is 67% of the geographical area of these states.
• Mangrove Cover: India’s mangrove cover is 4,991.68 km², representing 0.15% of the total geographical area, with a net decrease of 7.43 km² since 2021.
  • Gujarat saw a decrease of 36.39 km² in mangrove cover, while Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra experienced increases of 13.01 km² and 12.39 km², respectively.

• Forest Fire: The top three states with the most fire incidents in the 2023-24 season are Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

Marginal Gains in India’s Green Cover

• The ISFR-2023 report reveals an overall increase in India’s green cover, with forest cover growing marginally by 156 sq km and tree cover expanding significantly by 1,289 sq km since 2021.
• For the first time, the country’s combined green cover has surpassed 25%, with forests accounting for 21.76% and tree cover 3.41%.
• However, growth in forest cover remains slow, reflecting diminishing returns as India approaches saturation levels.

Trends in Forest Density and Dynamics

• The report highlights a dynamic forest landscape where dense forests (canopy density ≥40%) are shrinking, while plantations are increasingly being classified as dense forests.
• Since 2021, India lost 3,913 sq km of dense forests, continuing a decades-long trend.
• In the last 20 years, 24,651 sq km of dense forests have disappeared, but rapid plantation growth has partially offset these losses, transforming 15,530 sq km of sparse or non-forested land into dense forests.

Impact of Plantations on Forest Composition

• The increasing reliance on plantations for maintaining dense forest cover raises concerns.
• Unlike natural forests, plantations are monocultures, often vulnerable to pests, fires, and diseases.
• They lack the biodiversity and ecological functions of natural forests and may impede the regeneration of native species.
• While plantations sequester carbon faster in the short term, their long-term benefits are debatable, as they are frequently harvested, undermining climate goals.

Data Revisions and Transparency Issues

• India’s dense forest cover shows an apparent growth of 6% (21,601 sq km) since 2003, but much of this increase stems from unexplained data revisions across multiple ISFR editions.
• This lack of transparency masks the degradation of natural forests, giving a misleading impression of stability.

Key Implications and Concerns

• The steady replacement of natural dense forests with plantations undermines biodiversity, carbon storage, and long-term ecological resilience.
• Experts caution against relying on plantations to meet climate targets, as this approach may compromise the broader ecological and environmental objectives of forest conservation.
• A balanced strategy focusing on protecting natural forests alongside sustainable afforestation efforts is crucial for meaningful progress.

For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out India and Kuwait Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership, Strengthening Trade, Defence, and Regional Cooperation