Forest cover Connectivity Analysis in India: 2015-2019
A recent comprehensive study on forest connectivity across Indian states from 2015 to 2019 reveals a concerning trend: for every square kilometer of forest gained, India has lost 18 square kilometers. Two states contributed to about half of the total forest loss of 1,033 square kilometers, while four states accounted for approximately 56 square kilometers of forest gain. Notably, even states that experienced a net loss typically had small increases in certain areas. Overall, not a single state reported a net increase in forest cover.
Most alarmingly, the study found that forest losses occurred predominantly in core and corridor areas, locations crucial for maintaining wildlife movement and ecological health. In contrast, the forest increase was largely confined to “islets,” which are isolated patches lacking connectivity to core habitats. Almost half of the newly added forests were islets, with only about 6% representing core areas. The research, conducted by scientists from SASTRA University and IIT Bombay, was published in the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.
Structural connectivity is vital for supporting habitat permeability, species dispersal, gene flow, and biodiversity. Islets, being isolated habitats, contribute minimally to these ecological functions. “Islets hold the least ecological value because they are not connected to other habitats, making species migration nearly impossible,” says Dr. V. Sathyakumar from SASTRA University, one of the study’s lead authors. Thus, increasing forest cover in these islets without establishing connections to larger forests does not enhance biodiversity.
Dr. Sathyakumar explains, “Our study’s originality lies in evaluating forest connectivity, which has not been covered in any Forest Survey of India report. We investigated both gross forest gain and loss, while the FSI typically focuses on net changes.” This fundamental understanding of structural connectivity can inform ecological health assessments and biodiversity conservation efforts.
Dr. R. Ramsankaran, a professor at IIT Bombay, emphasizes that islets are more susceptible to deforestation compared to core areas. Between 2015 and 2019, the area of forest core converted to non-forest reached nearly 204 square kilometers, while islets saw a higher conversion of about 230 square kilometers. This significant loss in islets contrasts sharply with their smaller total area of 32,000 square kilometers compared to the 587,000 square kilometers of forest core.
“Forest cores exhibit greater resilience. Hence, when portions are lost, their chances of recovery are higher than those of more vulnerable structural entities like islets,” Dr. Sathyakumar notes. He further found that only 0.035% of core areas converted to non-forest, in stark contrast to a 0.72% conversion rate for islets—indicating islet loss was nearly twenty times higher during the study period.
The rapid decline of islets suggests that efforts to restore them may not yield sustainable results. Dr. Sathyakumar advocates for focusing afforestation efforts on forest cores, which offer better chances for sustaining restored areas.
Nationally, forest cover decreased from 24.13% in 2015 to 24.10% in 2019. Despite a reported gain of about 56 square kilometers, the loss of 1,033 square kilometers led to a net decrease of approximately 977 square kilometers—an alarming loss rate of 18 square kilometers for each square kilometer gained.
Mizoram recorded the highest forest cover at roughly 99%, whereas Ladakh had the lowest at 0.91%. Significant net reductions in forest cover were most pronounced in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Alarmingly, Tamil Nadu’s forest core loss was found to be sixteen times higher than the national average—a situation that underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions in states experiencing rapid deforestation of core areas.
Original Source – Full Article
Need help or have questions? Contact Us
