India’s forest resources play a pivotal role in the nation’s environmental landscape, influencing both biodiversity and climate dynamics. As of the latest assessment, India’s forest cover stands at approximately 24% of its total geographical area, a figure that underscores the significance of these ecosystems. However, the status of these resources is a matter of concern due to various anthropogenic pressures such as deforestation, encroachment, and unsustainable logging practices. The degradation of forest ecosystems has far-reaching consequences, contributing to climate change by diminishing the capacity of forests to sequester carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Furthermore, the loss of biodiversity within these ecosystems weakens their resilience to environmental stressors. Efforts to address the impact of climate change in India must therefore include robust strategies for sustainable forest management, afforestation, and the protection of existing biodiversity hotspots. The restoration and conservation of India’s forest resources are imperative not only for the country’s ecological balance but also for its role in mitigating the global challenges posed by climate change.
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper – 1 Mains 2020
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent)
UPSC Mains Civil Services IAS Exam Question Paper – 2020
Structure of the Question
- In Introduction,
- Briefly bring out the state of forest resources in India and importance of forest resources.
- In Body,
- Elaborate the status of forest resources of India and resultant impact on climate change.
- In Conclusion,
- State and mention the government’s commitment and need to preserve the forest resources.
Answer
Introduction
Forest has an enormous potential in mitigating climate change through forest restoration. The biennial “India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019” expressed that the complete woodland and tree front of the country with 80.73 million hectares is 24.56% of the all out topographical space of the country and forest resources of India. The State of the Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 states that India’s forest cover has increased by 3,976 sq. km since 2017 a rise of 0.56%, but for India to achieve its climate commitments, it would need to bring 33 percent of its geographical area under forest cover by 2022.
An examination of the status of forest resources of India as follows
Mangrove cover:
India’s all out mangrove cover is 4,975 sq km. There is an increment of 54 sq. km in mangrove cover across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha. The Mangrove environments, which offer numerous biological administrations, are undermined by environmental change. Yet, this expansion is a positive sign for keeping up their uniqueness and biodiversity wealth.
Bamboo cover:
Bamboo covers 16 million hectares of field. An expansion of 0.32 million hectares is seen in the bamboo bearing region. Its advantages incorporate critical environment administrations relating to afforestation/reforestation, subterranean carbon stores, exceptionally powerful carbon sinks, assisting human social orders with adjusting to environmental change.
Increase in forest and tree cover:
The current assessment shows an increase of 0.56% of forest cover, 1.29% of tree cover and 0.65% of forest and tree cover placed together at the national level as compared to the previous assessment i.e. ISFR 2017.
Total Carbon Stock in the forest:
In the present assessment, the total carbon stock in the forest is assessed as 7,124.6 million tonnes. There is an increase of 42.6 million tonnes in the carbon stock of the country as compared to the last assessment of 2017.
Forest resources of India’s resultant impact on climate change
- Forests act as a natural stabilizing agent for the climate as they regulate the carbon cycle significantly.
- Forests are the only unique, safe and inexpensive carbon capture and storage technology that is naturally available at scale with the potential to neutralize global CO2 concentrations.
- Carbon sequestration through photosynthesis is considered one of the most potent and inexpensive methods for climate change mitigation.
- The 2019 report highlights increased tree cover, but, according to the Global Forest Watch (GFW) the percentage of intact forest in India accounted for only about 6.7 percent as of 2016. This considerably skews the perception of the actual capability of the Indian peninsula for carbon sequestering.
India is quite vulnerable to effects of climate change due to
- Its 7500 km long coastline makes it prone to cyclones on the eastern coast and heavy rains on western coast.
- Its dependency on agriculture which is dependent on rainfall and weather.
- Its states present in Himalayan region which are prone to landslides and avalanches.
- Its dependency on rivers which are drying up due to global warming.
Conclusion
In an attempt to restore deforested and degraded land, India’s forest policy targeted forest and tree cover for over 33% of the total geographical area. India has also taken up various other commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, and the Bonn Challenge to minimize the impact of climate change. Given the critical state of India’s forests, the government and various stakeholders must demonstrate a sense of urgency in proper and serious implementation on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the current status of forest resources in India, and how have they changed over the past decade?
This question aims to provide an overview of the present condition of India’s forests, including information on forest cover, biodiversity, and any notable changes or trends observed in the last ten years.
2. How do forest resources in India contribute to mitigating climate change, and what are the key factors influencing this impact?
This question delves into the role of Indian forests in climate change mitigation, exploring aspects such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and the influence of factors like deforestation, afforestation, and sustainable forestry practices.
3. What are the major threats to India’s forest resources, and how do these threats exacerbate the challenges of climate change?
This question seeks to identify and analyze the primary threats to India’s forests, such as deforestation, illegal logging, and habitat destruction, and examines how these threats contribute to climate change challenges, including impacts on weather patterns and ecosystem stability.
4. How are government policies and initiatives addressing the conservation and sustainable management of forest resources in India?
This question focuses on the regulatory framework and governmental efforts aimed at preserving and sustainably managing India’s forest resources. It may also explore the effectiveness of existing policies and potential areas for improvement.
5. What are the potential future scenarios for India’s forests and their impact on climate change if current trends persist or if significant conservation measures are implemented?
This question looks ahead to assess the potential trajectories for India’s forests and their implications for climate change. It considers both optimistic scenarios with robust conservation efforts and more pessimistic scenarios if current trends, such as deforestation, continue unchecked.
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