Answer

India’s forest policies have led to a rise in green cover, now at 25.17% of the total land area, according to ISFR-2023. However, concerns remain about biodiversity loss, dense forest degradation, and the ecological limitations of monoculture plantations. Between 2003 and 2023, India lost over 24,651 sq km of dense forests, highlighting the need for a critical evaluation of these policies for sustainable conservation.

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Persistent Concerns Despite Increased Forest Cover

• Loss of Dense Forests: Between 2003 and 2023, India lost 24,651 sq km of dense forests, largely replaced by plantations or sparse forests, weakening the ecological integrity of its ecosystems.
  For example: ISFR-2023 reported the loss of 3,913 sq km of dense forests in just two years (2021–2023).
• Monoculture Plantations as a Replacement: The transformation of natural forests into monoculture plantations results in lower biodiversity and reduced ecological functions.
  For example: Between 2021 and 2023, 1,420 sq km of plantations were reclassified as dense forests, highlighting the over-reliance on fast-growing tree species.
• Climate Vulnerability: Monoculture plantations are more prone to fires, pests, and diseases, limiting their ability to mitigate climate change.
  For example: Plantations in central India have suffered from invasive pests, weakening their resilience to environmental changes.
• Carbon Sequestration Challenges: Natural forests store significantly more carbon than plantations, both in biomass and soil. The assumption that plantations can reach the carbon stock of natural forests within eight years has been flagged as unrealistic by the UNFCCC.
  For example: Old-growth forests in the Western Ghats store 3–5 times more carbon than plantations in the same region.
• Opaque Data and Revisions: The ISFR reports have been criticized for unexplained data revisions, which inflate dense forest cover figures and obscure the actual extent of degradation.

Critical Analysis of India’s Forest Policies

Positives

• National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Policies like the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and state-level plantation drives have contributed to the increase in overall green cover, reaching 25.17% in 2023.
  For example: Maharashtra’s plantation efforts added 716 sq km of tree cover between 2021 and 2023.
• Forest Conservation Act (1980): The Act regulates forest land diversion and ensures that compensatory afforestation is carried out for projects impacting forested areas.
  For example: Mining projects in Jharkhand have been subjected to compensatory afforestation requirements under this Act.
• Community Rights Under the Forest Rights Act (2006): This Act empowers tribal communities to manage forest resources sustainably, reducing conflicts and improving conservation.
  For example: In Odisha, forest communities have successfully managed and regenerated 5,000 hectares of forest land.
• Mangrove Restoration Programs: Mangrove conservation initiatives, particularly in the Sundarbans, have helped mitigate coastal erosion and enhance biodiversity.
  For example: The Sundarbans saw an increase of 110 sq km in mangrove cover in the past decade.
• Technological Integration: The use of GIS-based forest monitoring under the Forest Survey of India enables better tracking of forest health and density changes.
  For example: Real-time data from the ISFR has helped monitor forest degradation in Kerala’s protected areas.

Negatives

• Replacement of Natural Forests with Plantations: Afforestation drives prioritize fast-growing species like teak and eucalyptus, which fail to replicate the ecological benefits of natural forests.
  For example: Teak plantations in Chhattisgarh have led to the depletion of groundwater and reduced habitat diversity.
• Decline in Dense Forest Cover: The continued loss of very dense forests (VDF), which have the highest ecological value, weakens biodiversity and carbon sequestration capacity.
  For example: Over 17,500 sq km of dense forests were lost between 2013 and 2023, according to ISFR data.
• Inadequate Biodiversity Protection: Current forest policies focus on increasing forest area without sufficient emphasis on protecting biodiversity-rich regions.
  For example: The clearance of forests in the Western Ghats for hydropower projects has caused significant habitat loss.
• Poor Implementation of Forest Rights Act: Delays in recognizing community rights have created conflicts and limited the effectiveness of participatory conservation.
  For example: In Chhattisgarh, nearly 40% of community claims under the Act remain unresolved.
• Exemptions in Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023: The Act permits the diversion of forest land for linear infrastructure projects, often in sensitive ecological zones.
  For example: The construction of highways in Arunachal Pradesh has disrupted critical elephant corridors.

Reforms to Address Challenges and Balance Economic Development

• Restore Natural Forest Ecosystems: Prioritize the restoration of degraded natural forests over monoculture plantations, focusing on native species to enhance biodiversity.
  For example: The Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve has seen success in restoring native vegetation, improving wildlife habitats.
• Strengthen Community Rights: Expedite the recognition of community forest rights and involve local populations in forest management and conservation efforts.
  For example: Joint Forest Management Committees in Madhya Pradesh have improved forest regeneration and reduced conflicts.
• Limit Monoculture Plantations: Encourage mixed-species plantations to enhance ecological resilience and ensure plantations contribute to biodiversity and carbon goals.
  For example: The Western Ghats Reforestation Program uses diverse native species for long-term ecological benefits.
• Revise Compensatory Afforestation Norms: Ensure compensatory afforestation is carried out in the same ecological region and includes diverse native species.
  For example: Projects in Himachal Pradesh now mandate reforestation within the same watershed area.
• Enhance Technological Monitoring: Use drone surveillance and AI-powered tools to track illegal logging, forest degradation, and the survival rates of plantations.
  For example: AI-based monitoring in Uttarakhand has identified hotspots of illegal encroachment in protected areas.
• Reassess Exemptions in Forest Policies: Revise the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 to limit exemptions and require rigorous environmental assessments for all projects.
  For example: The Kaziranga National Park highway project could benefit from stricter environmental safeguards to protect wildlife corridors.

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India’s forest policies have increased green cover but have struggled with natural forest loss, biodiversity decline, and climate resilience. Restoring ecosystems, enhancing community involvement, and revising afforestation norms are key to sustainable conservation. A balanced approach that integrates ecological preservation with economic development will help India’s forests support biodiversity, climate goals, and livelihoods.

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