‘India State of Forest Report 2017’, which was released by Environment Ministry, shows that there have been some positives.
We must refine the strategy to further revive forests in totality – which requires moving away from monoculture plantations.
What is the cause for concern?
The environmental policy that envisions raising forest cover to 33% of the geographical area in the long term has yielded some dividends.
Based on satellite imagery, ‘India State of Forest Report 2017’, and shows that 24.4% of India’s land area is under some form of forest or tree cover.
This means that the forest and tree cover together registered a 1% rise over the previous estimate two years ago.
However, these estimates are mere remote sensing data don’t really provide deep insights into the integrity of the green areas.
Notably, the qualitative difference between “very dense, moderately dense, and scrub forests” needs further scientific pondering.
Also, mere tree cover is not the same as having biodiversity, and mono-culture plantation cater more to commercial industrial needs than to nature.
Recreating forests akin to the previously undisturbed assemblage of plants, trees and animals, is what would constitute a comprehensive revival.
What are the glitches in the present approach to development?
Economics - Some have come to regard the calculation of national income accounts (GDP), wealth generation and development as weak.
This is because the degradation of forests and the consequent loss of their natural services such as climate moderation aren’t accounted for.
Notably, forest degradation erodes the gains made by many communities, because lost natural capital eventually contributes to material losses.
Hence, developmental activities need to be environmentally sensitive.
Compensating Losses - The Ministry’s report has calculated a cumulative loss of forests in Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal of nearly 1,200 sq km.
The impact of such a terrible loss must be seen against the backdrop of the Northeast representing a global biodiversity hotspot.
Hence, remediation programmes elsewhere, like in Odisha, or Himachal cannot adequately compensate for biodiversity losses in the Northeast.
What is the way forward?
India must move away from monoculture plantations that are presently favoured by even forest development corporations in many States.
Scientific reviews to bring true natural forests with its biodiversity intact are needed, which is more than merely increasing the number of trees.
Presently, more than 300,000 sq km of area is open forest with a tree canopy of 10-40%, which can be capitalised to drive the revival program.
Such actions, combined with a policy against open cast mining, and efforts to protect the precious Northeast forests can bring about a forest renaissance.
