UPSC Mains Answer: Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Pre-requisite: Understanding of India’s forest classification (ISFR categories), historical trends in deforestation (colonial and post-independence periods), and basic principles of carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.

Sub-category: Geography (Resources and Environment)

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India’s forest resources, covering approximately 24.62% of its geographical area as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019, play a pivotal role in ecological balance and climate change mitigation. Historically, India’s forest cover has witnessed fluctuations due to colonial exploitation, post-independence developmental pressures, and shifting cultivation practices. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) categorizes forests into very dense, moderately dense, and open forests, with the northeastern states and Western Ghats exhibiting high biodiversity but facing severe degradation due to anthropogenic activities like deforestation, mining, and urbanization.
The resultant impact on climate change is multifaceted. Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing about 12% of India’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, as estimated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). However, deforestation and forest degradation contribute to nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, exacerbating global warming. The loss of forest cover disrupts rainfall patterns, leading to erratic monsoons and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. Additionally, the decline in forest biodiversity threatens ecosystem services, including soil conservation, water regulation, and livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
To address these challenges, India has adopted policies like the National Forest Policy (1988), the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), and international commitments under the Paris Agreement. However, effective implementation requires strengthening community participation, enforcing stricter regulations against illegal logging, and promoting afforestation with native species. A forward-looking approach must integrate climate-resilient forest management with sustainable development goals to ensure ecological stability and climate justice for future generations.