Introduction

India's forests are vital ecosystems supporting rich biodiversity, regulating climate, and sustaining millions of livelihoods. However, recent data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) reveals an alarming increase in the loss of India's primary humid forests. In 2024 alone, India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest, slightly more than the 17,700 hectares lost in 2023. This continuing decline threatens ecological balance, carbon storage capacity, and biodiversity conservation across the country.

What Are Primary Forests and Why Are They Important?

Primary forests are mature, natural humid tropical forests that have remained largely undisturbed by human activities in recent history. Unlike secondary or plantation forests, primary forests contain complex, stable ecosystems developed over centuries, hosting rich biodiversity and providing critical ecosystem services.

According to Global Forest Watch, primary forests are “mature natural humid tropical forests that have not been completely cleared and regrown in recent history.” These forests are crucial carbon sinks, storing significantly more carbon than other types of forests, thereby playing an important role in mitigating climate change. Furthermore, primary forests serve as habitats for many endangered species, maintaining ecological stability and supporting traditional livelihoods.

Monitoring Forest Cover: Methodology and Definitions:

The Global Forest Watch platform monitors forest cover changes worldwide by combining Landsat satellite imagery with advanced algorithms that detect changes in tree canopy cover. The data focuses on Tree Cover Loss (TCL), which includes all instances where tree canopy is lost temporarily or permanently, caused by both natural disturbances (such as fires, storms, or disease) and human activities (such as logging or land conversion).

It is important to distinguish between tree cover loss and deforestation. While deforestation refers specifically to the permanent removal of forest for other land uses like agriculture or urbanization, tree cover loss may also include temporary loss events that might be naturally regenerated or restored.

Trends in India’s Primary Forest Loss:

Between 2002 and 2024, India lost 3,48,000 hectares of humid primary forest—roughly 5.4% of the country’s total humid primary forest. This loss represents about 15% of India’s total tree cover loss over the same period, underscoring the disproportionately high impact on ecologically significant primary forests.

Annual loss figures in recent years demonstrate a disturbing upward trend:

·         2019: 14,500 hectares

·         2020: 17,000 hectares

·         2021: 18,300 hectares

·         2022: 16,900 hectares

·         2023: 17,700 hectares

·         2024: 18,200 hectares

Between 2019 and 2024, India lost 1,03,000 hectares of humid primary forest, accounting for 14% of the country’s total tree cover loss in that period.

Despite these losses, India has also seen significant increases in overall tree cover due to afforestation and regeneration efforts, with a net gain of approximately 1.78 million hectares of tree cover between 2000 and 2020. However, these gains largely represent secondary or plantation forests, which cannot fully compensate for the ecological value of lost primary forests.

Regional Hotspots of Forest Loss:

India’s northeastern states are particularly vulnerable to forest loss, exhibiting levels far above the national average (67,900 hectares annually):

·         Assam: 3,40,000 hectares lost

·         Mizoram: 3,34,000 hectares lost

·         Nagaland: 2,69,000 hectares lost

·         Manipur: 2,55,000 hectares lost

·         Meghalaya: 2,43,000 hectares lost

These regions are rich in primary forest but face intense pressures from shifting cultivation, agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructural development, resulting in accelerated degradation.

Major Drivers of Tree Cover Loss:

·         Shifting cultivation (jhum): Accounts for loss of 1.39 million hectares. This traditional agricultural practice involves clearing forest patches for cultivation and then leaving them fallow to regenerate. However, shortened fallow periods due to population pressure have intensified deforestation.

·         Permanent agricultural expansion: Responsible for 6,20,000 hectares lost. Forests cleared for farmland represent irreversible loss of forest ecosystems.

·         Logging: Both legal and illegal logging operations have caused the loss of 1,82,000 hectares of forest cover.

·         Natural disturbances: Events such as fires, disease outbreaks, and storms have resulted in 35,100 hectares of forest loss.

·         Settlements and infrastructure development: Urbanization, road construction, and mining projects have collectively led to the loss of 30,600 hectares of forest.

Environmental and Socioeconomic Implications:

·         Biodiversity loss: Primary forests harbor numerous endemic and endangered species. Their destruction threatens species survival and disrupts ecosystem functioning.

·         Climate change: Forest loss releases stored carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to India’s greenhouse gas emissions. The 2.31 million hectares of tree cover lost since 2001 have emitted approximately 1.29 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent, undermining India’s climate mitigation efforts.

·         Impact on local communities: Many forest-dependent indigenous and rural communities rely on primary forests for food, medicine, and cultural practices. Forest loss threatens their livelihoods and socio-cultural fabric.

·         Water cycle disruption: Forest degradation affects rainfall patterns, groundwater recharge, and increases vulnerability to floods and droughts.

Challenges in Forest Governance:

Despite robust legal frameworks like the Forest Conservation Act (1980) and various afforestation initiatives, India continues to grapple with challenges in forest governance:

·         Balancing developmental pressures with ecological conservation remains complex.

·         Enforcement gaps and corruption facilitate illegal logging and encroachment.

·         Lack of comprehensive community engagement reduces effectiveness of conservation programs.

·         Limited technological and financial capacity hampers real-time monitoring and rapid intervention.

Role of Technology and Global Collaboration:

Platforms like Global Forest Watch, initiated by the World Resources Institute, harness satellite technology and open data to provide transparent, near real-time information on forest cover changes. This technology aids policymakers, researchers, and civil society in detecting deforestation hotspots, monitoring illegal activities, and assessing conservation efforts.

Global Context and India’s Standing:

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ranks India as having the second-highest rate of deforestation worldwide between 2015 and 2020, losing an average of 6,68,000 hectares annually. This global perspective underscores the urgency for intensified conservation and sustainable forest management efforts in India.

Conclusion:

India’s ongoing loss of primary humid forests signals a critical environmental challenge. While afforestation and reforestation efforts have helped increase overall tree cover, they cannot replace the biodiversity, carbon storage, and ecosystem services provided by mature, undisturbed primary forests. Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach—strengthening governance, integrating community participation, leveraging technology for monitoring, and balancing developmental goals with ecological sustainability. Only through such comprehensive efforts can India hope to safeguard its invaluable forest ecosystems for future generations.