The National Green Tribunal seeks response from states on mass tree cover loss since 2000.
The NGT has issued orders to all states and Union Territories of the country regarding the massive loss of tree cover in the nation. The order from NGT has come at a time when controversy has been hovering over the alleged loss of 2.33 million hectares of tree cover spread over across India since 2000. The green body said it is a “pan-India” issue requiring coordination among all states and UTs to address the crisis.
The NGT bench comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad directed this on November 18 while hearing a case which drew attention to alarming forest cover loss and its implications on the environment. In its order, the tribunal directed the FSI to provide comprehensive reports on the ground situation.
Loss of Tree Cover: Investigation
The NGT has asked the FSI to submit detailed reports, showing the status of forest cover across the country, particularly in the northeast, from 2000 to March 2024. It must submit reports with a break-up over five-year intervals, which will allow for a more vivid idea about the increase in the rate of deforestation in the last two decades.
Under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the FSI plays the central role in both monitoring and reporting on forest cover in India. The move of the tribunal follows the submission of information by the Survey of India from the many regarding forest cover statistics. In addition to this report from FSI, the NGT has directed all states and the UTs to submit their own reports on the loss of tree cover. These reports should explain the present situation of forests, culprits behind deforestation, and what has been done to save them for conservation purposes and forest management.
The NGT also expressed concern that the destruction of trees is not isolated to one particular region but is a national problem. Hence, responses from every state and UT will ensure that regional accountability is addressed while the larger issue is understood.
Objections in Data Authenticity
In this light, the NGT order has come when there was a lot of debate about authenticity of data in respect of forest covers. Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Forest Survey of India dismissed reports published on Global Forest Watch, an online platform that provides information on forest cover loss globally. Data by Global Forest Watch suggest that India has lost approximately 6% of its forest cover since 2000. However, the national and regional offices in charge have contested this data, arguing that the figures produced by Global Forest Watch are far from reality.
The NGT has sent a calling across all the authorities in order to classify this and to prepare their reports for an appropriate estimation of the situation of India’s forest cover. This will alert future decision-making procedures as well as rightly show disparities at various data points.
Importance of Forest Conservation
Indian forests play a vital role in mitigating climatic changes, protection of biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance. India’s forests also form a vital source of resources for local communities, including firewood, fodder, and medicinal plants. Moreover, there are a variety of wildlife inhabitants, like endangered species- that of tigers, elephants, and rhinos-end.
Deforestation, involving processes such as urbanization, agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and industrial development among others, is a serious threat to these ecosystems. On the other hand, this activity contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate global climate change.
The NGT’s intervention draws attention to the increasing concern over India’s environmental challenges as well as the urgent need for effective measures in forest conservation. Aiming at ambitious goals to mitigate climate change and ensure sustainability, restoring degraded forests and preventing further deforestation is critical to achieving these objectives.
Next Steps and Possible Actions
Reports from States and UTs are to be submitted over a timeline mandated by the tribunal to which states and UTs have to reply. The NGT has even warned that its own non-compliance with the said directives may lead to further legal actions being initiated. Part of this broader initiative was going to be the reports that would form the basis of national policies pertaining to forest conservation, land use, and sustainable development.
The government has already taken the first strides toward rectifying this anomaly, such as through afforestation programs and increasing protected areas. Still, what the NGT order points to is more systematic checking and stern action at the level of enforcement of legislation to protect forests. It also emphasizes transparency in reporting and accountability at the grassroots level.
Additionally, by focusing on the northeast region, which has lost the largest area of forest in the recent past due to shifting agriculture and illegal logging, the tribunal will play a great role in ensuring that the nation addresses its deforestation problems in the most affected places.
Conclusion
The National Green Tribunal’s order calling for all states and Union Territories to submit reports on tree cover loss since the year 2000 is a crucial move the nation needs to take regarding India’s increasing deforestation crisis. Through the order mandating comprehensive reports from the Forest Survey of India as well as individual states, the tribunal takes into account a more defined view of the situation and proper conservation measures in place. Forest loss is a pan-India issue, and therefore, active steps from all regions toward forest conservation must be taken to ensure the natural resources of India are saved for the generations to come.
Source: Based on the order of National Green Tribunal and latest developments in loss of tree cover in India.