Guwahati: Northeast India, recognized as one of the nation’s vital biodiversity hotspots, has witnessed a significant decline in forest cover since 2021, despite an overall nationwide gain, as per the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023). Mizoram and Sikkim were the only exceptions in the region, showing an increase in forest cover.
The Northeast lost 327.30 sq km of forest cover between 2021 and 2023, according to ISFR 2023.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, while releasing the ISFR 2023, highlighted a nationwide increase of 1,445 sq km in forest and tree cover since 2021. However, the Northeast region, considered one of India’s four prominent biodiversity hotspots, showed a concerning decline.
The report was released at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. Published biennially since 1987 by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the ISFR provides a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s forest and tree resources.
Mizoram reported a forest cover increase of 178.42 sq km, and Sikkim registered a modest gain of 2.88 sq km.
Despite occupying only 7.98% of India’s land area, the Northeast contributes 21.08% of the country’s total forest and tree cover. However, deforestation and habitat fragmentation continue to pose significant threats to sustainable conservation efforts in this ecologically rich region.
“A prevalent agricultural technique in this region is known as shifting or Jhum cultivation. This method involves converting forest areas into agricultural lands by local communities,” the report stated.
Among the Northeastern states, Nagaland recorded the highest loss in forest cover with 125.22 sq km, followed by Tripura with 100.22 sq km, and Assam with 83.92 sq km.
The report emphasized that in Tripura, the expansion of large-scale rubber plantations has been a major driver of deforestation over the past decade.
The FSI conducted a study in 2019-20 at the request of the Tripura Forest Department to map rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations throughout the state using LISS-IV satellite data along with extensive ground verification.
Satellite imagery and field photographs illustrate the extensive conversion of forest land into rubber plantations. The study found that rubber plantations cover 11.90% of Tripura’s geographical area and constitute 16.17% of the state’s total forest area. South Tripura district has the largest spatial extent of rubber plantations, amounting to 355.27 sq km.
The state’s total forest cover within the Recorded Forest Area (RFA) is 5,433 sq km, with 482.22 sq km occupied by rubber plantations, accounting for 8.88% of the RFA. Photographs from the 18th cycle of forest cover mapping confirm the rapid expansion of rubber plantations in the state.
“Over the last decade, rubber plantations have expanded massively due to their fast growth and economic value. The state’s tropical climate and ideal growing conditions have fueled the rapid proliferation of rubber cultivation. However, extensive cultivation has raised concerns about its potential negative impact on biodiversity. The conversion of vast natural forests into monoculture rubber plantations has disturbed the ecological balance,” the report highlighted.
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