India’s tree loss over the past two decades has hit Assam the hardest, according to recent reports.
The Global Forest Watch reveals a 6% decline in tree cover since 2000, with 2.3 million hectares lost nationwide. The northeastern states, including Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur, bear the brunt, accounting for 60% of the total loss.
Assam leads the pack with 324,000 hectares lost. Other states like Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur also suffered significant losses. The Forest Conservation Amendment Act of 2023 allows timber use near the border without consent, leaving many natural areas vulnerable. This loss of forest cover accelerates climate change, as forests act as both carbon sinks and sources.
The term “tree cover” is used by the Global Forest Watch to measure forest extent, loss, and gain, using satellite imagery for cost-effective monitoring.
