Achi news desk-
GUWAHATI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has called for responses from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Survey of India (SoI) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) following a report that India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000. This development comes after the NGT took cognizance of a news report titled "India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000: Global Forest Watch," Posted on April 13, 2024.
The tribunal also noted that 95% of the loss of tree cover in India from 2013 to 2023 occurred in natural forests. The data indicated that five states – Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur – accounted for 60% of the total tree cover loss between 2001 and 2023. Assam experienced the highest loss with 324,000 hectares.
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The NGT bench, comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Associate Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, noted the report’s findings that India lost 414,000 hectares of moist primary forest between 2002 and 2023. This loss constitutes 18% of the total loss of tree cover during that period.
The report, based on data from Global Forest Watch (GFW), highlighted that between 2001 and 2022, India’s forests emitted 51 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, but removed 141 million tonnes, resulting in a net carbon sequestration of 89.9 million tons per year. In total, 1.12 gigatons of CO2 equivalent were emitted due to the loss of tree cover during this period.
The NGT emphasized that forests serve as both carbon sinks and sources, and loss of tree cover accelerates climate change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, India’s deforestation rate was 668,000 hectares per year between 2015 and 2020, the second highest in the world.
The NGT expressed concern about possible violations of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The tribunal fixed the matter for further hearing on August 28, 2024.
Also Read: Guwahati sees decline in tree cover; Deforestation is increasing
In its order, the NGT directed the Survey of India to submit a detailed report on forest cover in India, with a specific focus on the northeastern region from 2000 onwards, with updates at five-year intervals by March 2024. The report will be submitted. At least one week before the next hearing date.
