Know the main points and gist of the news at a glance
Anoop Kumar Singh, New Delhi. During two decades, the total area of trees and forests in the country increased, but the dense natural forest areas decreased. However, this reduction is only three percent of the total forest area.
At the same time, this shortcoming shows that there is a need to bring more seriousness in Indian efforts to stop global climate change and temperature rise. This is important from the point of view of long-term carbon absorption and biodiversity, because it is not just a matter of increasing greenery, but a bigger issue related to India's climate strategy.
Strengthening carbon absorption capacity is of utmost importance in fighting climate change. Therefore, it is important to increase the area of trees, but it is more important to preserve the quality of dense and natural forests.
Experts also suggested solutions
This was also a topic of discussion among environment and climate experts and speakers in various sessions held on Thursday, the second day of the World Sustainable Development Summit. Experts also suggested solutions regarding this.
Under the international platform 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change', India has set a target of absorbing carbon equivalent to 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide through trees and forests by the year 2030.
trees exist outside the forest
According to the India State of Forest Report of the Forest Survey of India, there are forests or trees on 8,27,357 square kilometers of land in the country, which is 24.8 percent of the total geographical area of the country. In this, 7,15,343 square kilometer area is of dense or normal forests, while 1,12,014 square kilometer area is where trees are present outside the forest.
According to the report, the total carbon stock in the country's forests is estimated at more than 7,285 million tonnes, which is more than the previous assessment (2021). This means that due to increase in the spread of trees, the carbon absorption capacity of the country has also increased.
A slight decrease was recorded
At the same time, the report shows that a slight decrease has been recorded in the area of very dense, natural and old forests. Experts say that such dense forests absorb the most carbon and are also very important for biodiversity. If the increase is occurring primarily in trees planted in open areas or in low-density forests, the impact may be different in the long run.
If we talk about the states from this point of view, Madhya Pradesh is the state with the highest forest area in the country. In many states of the North-East, there is more greenery in proportion to the total land, but the condition of dense forests has also decreased here. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has also expressed the need to strengthen the quality and monitoring of compensatory afforestation in its audit observations. The National Green Tribunal is also emphasizing on the conservation of natural forests.
Solution: It is important to focus not only on area, but also on quality.
According to environment and climate experts, solution to the problem is possible at many levels.
Also read- Badarpur pond encroachment: DDA gave information to High Court, next hearing will be on July 8
It is clear that to achieve climate goals, it is necessary to increase the area of trees, but it is even more important to preserve the quality of natural and dense forests. This strategy can ensure both offsetting carbon emissions and environmental balance in the long run.