New Delhi: Northeast India, once home to dense forests and rich biodiversity, is witnessing a rapid decline in its green cover. Over the last decade, the region has lost 3,877 square kilometers of forests—an area almost the size of Goa—raising serious environmental concerns.
The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 reveals that states like Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur have seen vast tracts of dense forests degrade into open forests or non-forest areas.
According to India Spend, the Northeast’s forests—home to rare wildlife like the Red Panda, snow leopard, and one-horned rhinoceros—are vanishing due to deforestation, shifting cultivation, infrastructure projects, and commercial plantations. The government, however, claims that India’s overall forest cover has increased by 156 square kilometers since the last assessment, a claim that has been criticized by experts.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of the issue, summoning officials from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Tripura to explain the region’s forest loss. While government reports highlight forest growth outside Recorded Forest Areas (RFAs), experts argue that much of this is due to monoculture plantations like rubber and palm, which lack the ecological benefits of natural forests.
The ISFR report also notes that 46,707 square kilometers of dense forests in India have turned into non-forest areas. In Arunachal Pradesh alone, 167 square kilometers of moderately dense forests have degraded. While the government suggests afforestation as a solution, conservationists argue that plantation forests cannot replace natural ecosystems.
Policy changes, such as the 2023 amendment to the Forest Conservation Act, have further raised concerns. The amendment exempts land within 100 kilometers of India’s borders—including much of the Northeast—from forest protection if it is being diverted for security or eco-tourism projects. Experts fear this will accelerate deforestation.
According to India Spend, communities in the Northeast, who traditionally managed forests, are losing control due to shifting policies. Meanwhile, unregulated development projects, illegal logging, and shrinking jhum cultivation cycles continue to threaten the region’s forests.
Despite government claims of forest growth, the data suggests a troubling reality—Northeast India’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, and urgent conservation efforts are needed before it is too late.
