Thinning dense forest cover cause for concern

India lost almost 2,000 sq km green cover in the last two years

India lost almost 2,000 sq km of moderately dense forests in the last two years, out of which nearly 80 per cent vanished in eastern and north-eastern states, triggering concern in the environment ministry.

Between 2011 and 2013, as much as 1,991 square km of “moderately dense forests” disappeared, of which 78 per cent or 1,551 sq km of dense jungles was lost in the north-eastern states, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, says India’s latest “State of the Forest” report released here on Tuesday.

“Loss of forests in the North-East is a matter of concern,” said Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, emphasising that development and environment protection would go hand in hand in the Narendra Modi government.

Overall, India’s total forest and tree cover increased marginally between 2011 and 2013 to cover 24.01 per cent of the total geographical area. This includes a marginal increase of 31 sq km in very dense forest cover (more than 70 per cent forest cover), loss in moderately dense forest and enhancement of 7,831 sq km of open forest.

The increase in the forest cover is of 5,871 sq km, most of which are open and degraded forests. The biodiversity-rich North-East, however, lost 733 sq km of moderately dense forests, with a canopy cover between 40 and 70 per cent.

“Shifting cultivation, clear felling of trees and encroachments are the reasons for loss in the North-East,” Anmol Kumar, director general of Forest Survey of India, told Deccan Herald.

In the South, Kerala has the best forest cover as more than 33 per cent of the state is covered by forest, thanks to the Western Ghats. But Andhra Pradesh and Karnatala lost close to 275 sq km of forest area in the same period whereas Tamil Nadu has gained by 219 sq km.

Asked about the Central government’s stand on the Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats, Environment Secretary V Rajagopalan said two more months had been given to every stakeholder states to review the panel’s report again and revert to the Centre with their views.