{"id":44177,"date":"2024-12-24T05:21:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T23:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=44177"},"modified":"2025-05-06T09:05:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T03:35:26","slug":"why-growth-of-indias-green-cover-raises-environmental-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/why-growth-of-indias-green-cover-raises-environmental-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Growth of India\u2019s Green Cover Raises Environmental Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why in News?<\/li>\n<li>Trends in Forest and Tree Cover Growth<\/li>\n<li>Forests within forest<\/li>\n<li>Forest Balance Sheet: Insights from ISFR-2023<\/li>\n<li>Implications of Forest Cover Trends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why in News?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The 18th biennial <strong>State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023)<\/strong> highlights a marginal gain of <strong>156 sq km in forest cover<\/strong> and a significant increase of <strong>1,289 sq km in tree cover<\/strong> since 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For the first time, India\u2019s green cover has surpassed the <strong>25% threshold<\/strong>, with <strong>8,27,357 sq km (25.17%)<\/strong> of the country under <strong>forest (21.76%)<\/strong> and <strong>tree (3.41%)<\/strong> cover. Dense forests constitute <strong>4,10,175 sq km<\/strong> of the total.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trends in Forest and Tree Cover Growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Calculation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Since 2001, <strong>tree patches smaller than 1 hectare<\/strong> have been measured separately as <strong>tree cover<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trend<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The latest ISFR-2023 report shows the <strong>sharpest growth in tree cover<\/strong>, rising from <strong>2.91% in 2021 to 3.41%<\/strong> in 2023, marking a <strong>0.5 percentage point increase in two years<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>In contrast, <strong>forest cover growth has slowed<\/strong>, increasing by only <strong>0.05 percentage points<\/strong> since 2021.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Implication<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>This aligns with the diminishing growth trend since forest cover surpassed the <strong>20% threshold<\/strong> in the early 2000s.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Between 2003 and 2013, forest cover grew by <strong>0.61 percentage points<\/strong> (from 20.62% to 21.23%).<\/li>\n<li>On the other hand, the next decade saw only a <strong>0.53 percentage point increase<\/strong> to 21.76%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Forests within forest<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Classification of Forest Types in India<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>In India, <strong>tree patches measuring 1 hectare or more<\/strong> with a <strong>minimum canopy cover of 10%<\/strong> are classified as forests, irrespective of land use or ownership.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Forests are categorized based on canopy density:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Very Dense Forests (VDF):<\/strong> Canopy density \u2265 70% (classified since 2003).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dense Forests:<\/strong> Canopy density \u2265 40%.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Open Forests (OF):<\/strong> Canopy density between 10-40%.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Non-Forest (NF):<\/strong> Areas with &lt; 10% canopy density, including shrubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dynamic Changes in Forest Density<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Forests undergo transitions across density categories due to factors like <strong>climate<\/strong> and <strong>biotic pressure<\/strong>. For example:\n<ul>\n<li>A <strong>VDF<\/strong> may thin to a <strong>Moderately Dense Forest (MDF)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>An <strong>OF<\/strong> may improve to an <strong>MDF<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Forests may degrade to <strong>NF<\/strong> or <strong>shrub areas<\/strong>, indicating deforestation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limitations of Aggregated Data<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>While aggregated data reflects the quantum of different forest types, it fails to capture the <strong>dynamic transformation of forests<\/strong>, where <strong>natural forests degrade, disappear, or are replaced by plantations<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Plantations often grow faster but do not replicate the ecological richness of natural forests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tracking Forest Change<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Since 2003, ISFR reports include a <strong>\u201cchange matrix\u201d<\/strong>, detailing forest transitions across categories.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>This data highlights <strong>broad trends over two decades<\/strong>, reflecting the dynamic nature of forest ecosystems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Forest Balance Sheet: Insights from ISFR-2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"image image_resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiram-prod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com\/Changes_in_dense_forest_cover_2003_2023_ae39921729.webp\" alt=\"Changes in dense forest cover 2003-2023.webp\" \/><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dense Forest Losses (2003-2023)<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>India has lost <strong>24,651 sq km<\/strong> (6.3%) of its dense forests since 2003, equivalent to nearly half the size of Punjab.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Key trends:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2021-2023:<\/strong> 3,913 sq km lost (larger than Goa).<\/li>\n<li><strong>2013-2023:<\/strong> 17,500 sq km lost.<\/li>\n<li><strong>2003-2013:<\/strong> 7,151 sq km lost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plantation Gains Offset Dense Forest Losses<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Rapid transformation of <strong>15,530 sq km of non-forested or scantly forested land<\/strong> to dense forests over the past two decades has offset these losses.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Experts suggest these gains are predominantly <strong>plantations<\/strong>, as natural forests do not grow this quickly.\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2021-2023:<\/strong> 1,420 sq km of plantations became dense forests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Management and Density Improvements<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Better management practices have allowed <strong>Open Forests (OFs)<\/strong> to improve into <strong>Moderately Dense Forests (MDFs)<\/strong> over the last decade.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Combined with plantation gains, this has kept the dense forest cover largely stable.<\/li>\n<li>The \u201cchange matrix\u201d records a net increase of <strong>1,370 sq km of dense forest<\/strong> between 2003-2023.<\/li>\n<li><strong>716 sq km of gains<\/strong> were recorded in the 2021-2023 cycle alone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Data Revisions and Paper Gains<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>India\u2019s dense forest cover officially grew by <strong>21,601 sq km (6%)<\/strong> between 2003-2023.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>However, this figure includes <strong>20,232 sq km of revisions<\/strong> made in previous ISFR reports (2005, 2009, 2015, and 2021), raising questions about the accuracy of these gains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Observation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>While plantations and management practices stabilize dense forest cover on paper, the ongoing <strong>disappearance of natural dense forests<\/strong> highlights the need for improved conservation measures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Implications of Forest Cover Trends<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Criticism of Plantation-Based Forest Growth<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The apparent growth in forest cover through the <strong>replacement of natural dense forests with plantations<\/strong> has drawn criticism from experts.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Key issues include:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Uniformity and Vulnerability:<\/strong> Plantations typically consist of trees of the same age and species, making them susceptible to <strong>fire, pests, and epidemics<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Barrier to Natural Regeneration:<\/strong> Plantations hinder the regrowth of <strong>biodiverse natural forests<\/strong>, which provide a broader range of ecological benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ecological Superiority of Natural Forests<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Natural forests outperform plantations in several ways:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Biodiversity:<\/strong> Natural forests support more species and complex ecosystems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carbon Stock:<\/strong> They store significantly more carbon, both in trees and soil, compared to plantations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Climate Challenges of Plantation Forests<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rapid Growth Assumption:<\/strong> In 2018, the <strong>UNFCCC<\/strong> flagged India\u2019s assumption that plantations reach the carbon stock level of natural forests in <strong>just eight years<\/strong>, which is unrealistic.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Risks:<\/strong> Plantations grow quickly and are promoted to meet carbon targets. However, they are often <strong>harvested prematurely<\/strong>, undermining long-term climate goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conclusion<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>While plantations may stabilize forest cover on paper and provide short-term carbon benefits, they fail to replicate the ecological and climate advantages of old natural forests, emphasizing the need for better conservation strategies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Q.1. Why is the growth in India\u2019s green cover concerning despite the increase?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The rise in green cover largely comes from plantations, which lack the biodiversity and carbon-storing capacity of natural forests. This trend poses ecological risks and undermines long-term climate goals.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Q.2. What are the ecological disadvantages of plantations replacing natural forests?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Plantations are often uniform, vulnerable to pests and fires, and hinder natural forest regeneration. They store less carbon than natural forests and fail to support diverse ecosystems.<\/p>\n<p><strong>News: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/growth-of-india-green-cover-not-all-good-news-9740450\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Why growth of India\u2019s overall green cover is not all good news<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/noida\/mismatch-in-district-area-green-cover-isfr-data-raises-questions\/articleshow\/116575618.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Times of India<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore why the increase in India\u2019s green cover, highlighted in ISFR-2023, is not entirely positive. Learn about the replacement of natural forests with plantations and the ecological implications of this shift.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":44178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44177","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}