Forest Conservation Efforts in India

Context

Tree planting has been a popular tactic in the global campaign to combat deforestation and climate change, after the United Nations’ declaration of 2021–2030 as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

India has many challenges in its efforts to conserve its forests, such as extensive encroachment, millions of people who rely heavily on forests for their livelihood, and a large loss of forest area to uses other than forestry. The nation has pledged to increase the amount of forest cover and repair degraded areas, but more complex, ecologically conscious approaches are becoming apparent.

Challenges faced by Forests in India

• Deforestation – India’s forest cover is still declining despite conservation efforts because of mining, development projects, and increased agricultural production. According to the Forest Survey of India report 2021, there was a 1,582 sq km loss in India’s moderately dense forest area. 
• Human-Wildlife Conflict – The number of instances of confrontation between humans and wildlife has dramatically grown as forest ecosystems decline and separate. For example, in India, conflicts between humans and animals claim the lives of around 500 people and 100 elephants annually.  
• Plantation Vs Conservation – Plantation drives frequently encourage monoculture, which is detrimental to ecosystem health and biodiversity. In addition, these campaigns often disregard the particular ecological requirements of the surrounding landscape, occasionally planting trees in inappropriate places, like grasslands, which can upset natural habitats and make problems like wildfires worse. 
• Legislative Issues – India’s legal battle for forest protection has become more difficult as a result of recent revisions to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Potentially exposing large tracts to destruction, the proposed modifications seek to exempt certain forest holdings documented prior to 1980 from protection. 
• Climate Change Impacts – Indian forests are becoming more susceptible to the consequences of climate change, such as changed patterns of precipitation, a rise in forest fires, and pest outbreaks. India’s Nationally Determined Contributions call for the country to use its forests to create an additional carbon sink, but doing so in the face of changing climate conditions is a major issue. 
• Invasive Species – In many Indian forests, the natural biodiversity is under jeopardy due to the proliferation of exotic species. For example, the dynamics of the environment are changing due to the rapid expansion of Senna spectabilis in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Lantana camara in the Western Ghats.
• Funding Issues – Notwithstanding how vital forests are, financing for their management and conservation is sometimes insufficient. Underutilization and misallocation of funds intended for afforestation have been problems for the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).  
• Shrinking Forest Covers – The disappearance of wildlife corridors is having a significant impact on animal migration and genetic diversity. Elephant migration depends on the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong corridor in Assam, which is becoming less frequent due to encroachment and infrastructural development.  

Measures to Improve Forest Conservation in India

• Integrated Landscape Management Approach – Adopt a comprehensive conservation strategy at the landscape level that transcends protected area limits. This strategy ought to combine sustainable land use practices in the surrounding areas with forest conservation. 
• Technological Integration in Forest Monitoring – Use cutting-edge technologies to manage and monitor forests in real time. Establish a national network of drones, AI-powered devices, and remote sensing equipment to detect forest fires, illicit logging, and encroachments early. The use of high-resolution satellite images for forest cover assessment by the Forest Survey of India is a positive move. 
• Community-centric Conservation Models – Bolster and expand effective community forest management models, such as the Forest Rights Act’s Community Forest Resource Rights and Uttarakhand’s Van Panchayats. In terms of biodiversity conservation and forest regeneration, these models have demonstrated astounding success. 
• Green Finance – Provide creative funding sources to aid in the preservation of forests. Put in place extensive Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, in which those who benefit from forest services foot the bill for upkeep. Investigate green bond and carbon credit markets as additional sources of funding for forest restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Urban Forestry – Provide thorough urban forestry initiatives that accomplish more than just planting trees in order to establish thriving urban ecosystems. This should involve incorporating nature-based solutions into urban design, as well as creating parks dedicated to urban biodiversity and green corridors. 
• Strengthening Forest Governance – Modernize forest departments by implementing extensive initiatives to increase their capabilities. This should concentrate on educating forest employees about cutting-edge technologies, techniques for engaging the community, and multidisciplinary approaches to conservation. 
• Restoration of Degraded Forests – Initiate a national initiative to restore damaged forests and important wildlife corridors ecologically. This should incorporate ecosystem-based methods and support natural regeneration in addition to traditional afforestation.  
• Legal and policy Reforms – Close legal flaws in current legislation and guarantee stringent enforcement to fortify legal frameworks for the protection of forests. This entails simplifying the declaration of eco-sensitive zones and revising the Forest Conservation Act to give more precise definitions of forest area.  
• Combating Forest Fires – The use of many strategies is essential to combating forest fires efficiently. First and foremost, it is crucial to take preventative actions like managed burns to remove vegetation, building fire breaks around sensitive regions, and teaching people about responsible forest use.
  

Way Forward

To effectively address the challenges faced by India’s forests, a multifaceted approach is essential. This includes adopting integrated landscape management, leveraging advanced technologies for real-time forest monitoring, and promoting community-centric conservation models. Additionally, innovative green finance mechanisms, comprehensive urban forestry initiatives, and strengthening forest governance are crucial. Restoration of degraded forests, legal and policy reforms, and effective strategies to combat forest fires must also be prioritized. By implementing these measures, India can enhance its forest conservation efforts, ensuring sustainable management and protection of its vital forest ecosystems for future generations.

SOURCE: The Hindu

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