Forest degradation
Published on 02 Feb 2025
Forest degradation refers to the long-term reduction in the overall capacity of a forest to provide ecological, economic, and social functions. It is a result of various human activities and natural processes that negatively impact the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Causes of Forest degradation
Logging and timber harvesting: Unsustainable logging practices, including illegal logging and clear-cutting.
Example: Illegal logging in the Western Ghats, where valuable timber species like rosewood are targeted for their high market value.
Agricultural expansion: Expansion of agricultural activities into forested areas through practices like slash-and-burn agriculture.
Example: Slash-and-burn agriculture in parts of Southeast Asia, where forests are cleared for cultivating crops like palm oil or rubber.
Forest fire: Uncontrolled wildfires, often exacerbated by human activities or as a result of climate change.
Example: Forest fires in Goa in 2023
Infrastructure development: Construction of roads, dams, and other infrastructure projects within forested areas.
Example: Construction of roads and dams in the Western Ghats of India, leading to habitat fragmentation and disturbance to local ecosystems.
Mining activities: Extractive activities such as mining for minerals, oil, and natural gas.
Example: Bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha, India, causing deforestation, habitat destruction, and displacement of local communities.
Climate change: Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events.
Example: Rising temperatures affecting the montane forests of the Himalayas, leading to shifts in vegetation zones and potential threats to endemic species.
Consequences of forest degradation
Loss of biodiversity: Degraded forests often experience a decline in species richness and diversity, leading to the loss of plant and animal species.
Example: Forest degradation in the Western Ghats of India, leading to the decline of endemic species like the Malabar gliding frog.
Disruption of ecosystem services: Forest degradation impairs the ability of forests to provide essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and soil fertility.
Example: Degradation of mangrove forests in the Sundarbans affecting their role in coastal protection, fishery support, and carbon sequestration.
Soil erosion and degradation: Removal of vegetation cover and disturbance to the forest floor contribute to increased soil erosion and degradation.
Example: Deforestation in the Amazon Basin contributing to increased soil erosion and loss of fertile topsoil.
Impact on local communities: Forest degradation affects communities that depend on forests for livelihoods, food, and resources, leading to economic and social challenges.
Example: Forest degradation affecting tribal communities in Jharkhand.
Increased vulnerability to climate change: Degraded forests are less resilient to climate change, making them more susceptible to the impacts of extreme weather events.
Example: Degraded forests in the Western Himalayas being more susceptible to the impacts of climate change, such as altered precipitation patterns and glacial retreat.
Forest conservation measures
Forest conservation in India is a critical aspect of environmental sustainability and biodiversity preservation. Several measures and initiatives have been implemented to address issues related to deforestation, habitat loss, and degradation.
National Forest Policy 1988: Serves as a guiding framework for forest management. The policy emphasizes maintaining a minimum of one-third of the total land area under forest and tree cover.
Joint Forest Management (JFM): Involving local communities in the protection, management, and regeneration of forests. It encourages collaborative efforts between forest departments and local communities.
National Afforestation programme: It includes projects like the Green India Mission, which aims to enhance forest and biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act: The CAF Act, 2016 facilitates the utilization of funds collected as compensation for diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
Conservation efforts: Biosphere reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to conserve biodiversity, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable development.
Digital India initiatives: Leveraging technology to monitor and manage forest resources through initiatives like the National Resource Information System (NRIS) and Forest Survey of India (FSI).
These measures have contributed to the increase in India's forest cover, which has grown from 20.56% in 1990 to 21.72% in 2023. However, challenges remain, and continued efforts are needed to address deforestation, promote sustainable forest management, and enhance biodiversity conservation.