Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. (UPSC IAS Mains 2020 General Studies Paper – 1)
According to the ‘India State of Forest Report 2019’ the total forest and tree cover in India is 80.73 million hectares which is around 24.56% of the total geographical area of the country. These forests and trees deliver important ecosystem goods and services. Any major change caused in the available forest resources, directly or indirectly affects climate change.
Forest Resources and Climate Change
- Different forest types are a gateway to different wood and non-wood forest resources. Forests also provide food, fiber, edible oils, and drugs. Forest is an important source of minerals and minor forest produce like tendu and honey.
- These forest resources in India despite being under protection laws suffer as open access resources. Due to this, almost 78% of the forest area is subjected to heavy grazing and other unregulated uses. Forests are also prone to illegal mining activities and slash and burn agricultural practices in certain areas. With increase in population, the pressure on forest resources have increased. This over-exploitation of resources has aggravated the impact of climate change.
- Forests help in carbon sequestration and oxygen enrichment in environment. Unregulated use of forest resources and deforestation activities disturb the carbon cycle resulting in increase in global temperature levels. This translates to change in wind pattern and precipitation levels.
- Climate change is increasing the risk of drought in some areas, while making many other areas prone to extreme precipitation and flooding situations. Increased temperature is increasing the melting rate of icebergs thereby resulting in increase in sea level and submergence of coastal areas and islands.
- Also, the unchecked forest resource utilization has resulted in frequent wildfires, storms, insect outbreaks, invasive species and diseases. The increase in human-animal conflict cases nowadays is also a result of over exploitation of forest resources.
Thus, there is a close interrelationship between climate change and forests. The issue of unchecked human activities in forest areas needs to be addressed in a holistic manner not only at local level but also at global level. Making plantation mandatory along highways, road dividers, vacant land along railway tracks, etc. coupled with promoting sustainable usage of forest resources will serve the purpose.
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