The 18th biennial State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023), published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), reveals significant trends in India’s forest and tree cover.

Overview of ISFR-2023

• Increase in Trees and Forests: The report documents a marginal increase of 156 sq km in forest cover and a notable rise of 1,289 sq km in tree cover since 2021.
• Green Cover of India: For the first time, India’s total green cover has surpassed the 25% threshold, reaching 8,27,357 sq km, which represents 25.17% of the country’s total land area. This includes 21.76% forest cover (4,10,175 sq km) and 3.41% tree cover.

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Forests and Protection of Forests in India

• Importance of Forests: Forests are not just trees; they are vital for survival, providing shelter, food, livelihoods, and protection. 
  • They also hold cultural significance, with many tribes considering forests sacred and revering certain trees.
• Colonial Era and After: Under British rule, forests were exploited for timber, but after independence, the 1980 Forest Conservation Act was passed, limiting uncontrolled land use for development and requiring a regulatory mechanism for forest diversion.
• Forest Rights Act: The 2006 Forest Rights Act further recognized the rights of village communities to access and manage forests, as well as to own and sell minor forest produce.
• Striking a Balance: A major challenge lies in balancing industrial development with environmental conservation.
  • Decline Forests and Biodiversity: Development projects are causing the decline of ecosystems such as the Western Ghats, Nilgiris, and northeastern forests, while mangrove areas in the Andaman Islands are being reduced due to coastal development.

Plantations Becoming Dense Forests

• Carbon Sinks: Carbon sinks like oceans and forests absorb and capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and reduce its concentration in the air.
• Rise in Plantations or Forest?: The 2023 report highlights the growth of plantations into dense forests, with 1,420 sq km of plantations becoming classified as dense forests since 2021.
  • Concerns: However, experts have raised concerns about the increasing reliance on plantations, as they often lack biodiversity and ecological function compared to natural forests.
• Carbon Sequestration: The shift from natural forests to plantations has raised concerns about carbon sequestration.
  • Natural forests store far more carbon than plantations, both in their biomass and in the soil. 
  • Critics argue that the rapid growth of plantations cannot match the carbon stock level of mature, natural forests, undermining the long-term climate goals set by India.
• Plantations Cannot Meet Long Term Goals: While plantations can contribute to meeting short-term carbon targets due to their rapid growth, they are often harvested more quickly, which may counteract their benefits in the long run.

Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023

• Exemptions in Certain Kinds of Lands: In Section 1A(2)(a), for instance, the following kind of land is exempted: “such forest land situated alongside a rail line or a public road maintained by the Government, which provides access to a habitation, or to a rail, and roadside amenity up to a maximum size of 0.10 hectare in each case. 
  • The Act also exempts all strategic linear projects of “national importance and concerning national security” within 100 km of international borders.
• Expansion of Permitted Activities: It facilitates silvicultural operations, wildlife safaris, and eco-tourism, as specified by the central government.
  • The exemption provided weekend the attempts to conserve forests.

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Conclusion

Moving forward, balancing the growth of plantations with the preservation and restoration of natural forests will be crucial for maintaining ecological integrity and meeting climate targets.

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