The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of the declining forest cover in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Mizoram, summoning the principal chief conservators of forests from these states to appear in court. The NGT has requested a detailed response from these officials ahead of the next hearing, scheduled for January 29, 2025.
The move comes after the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 revealed that Assam lost 86.66 square kilometers of forest cover between 2021 and 2023. The NGT, in an order issued on January 22, expressed concern over the degradation, particularly within recorded forest areas. The report also highlighted a loss of 1,699 square kilometers in canopy density, indicating a broader decline in forest quality and density across the state. The NGT raised the possibility that these declines might be in violation of the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment (Protection) Act.
The ISFR also pointed out significant reductions in forest cover in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, with losses of 1,084 square kilometers and 987 square kilometers, respectively. The findings underscore the environmental challenges faced by the northeastern region, with the conversion of natural forests into monoculture rubber plantations in Tripura further disrupting the ecological balance and threatening biodiversity.
The ISFR attributes the shrinking of Assam’s forest resources to human activities such as encroachments, infrastructure development, and deforestation. In response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently announced the reclamation of approximately 9,000 hectares of encroached land, which has been restored to the state forest department. Additionally, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, urged the Central government to address the findings of the ISFR and take action to protect Assam’s ecosystems and mitigate the impacts of climate change. (With inputs from Deccan Chronicles)