Global Forest Watch: India Lost 2.31 Million Hectares of Tree Cover
Why in the news
Global Forest Watch data, run by the World Resources Institute, show that India lost 2.31 million hectares of tree cover over 2001-2024, drawing fresh attention to forest cover trends.
Key facts
- Tree cover loss of 2.31 million hectares, equal to 7.1% since 2000; about 150,000 hectares were lost in 2024, linked to roughly 68 million tonnes of CO2.
- Humid primary forest loss: 348,000 hectares (5.4%) in 2002-2024, which is 15% of all tree cover loss.
- Cumulative emissions from the loss: about 1.29 gigatonnes of CO2.
- Fires accounted for 36,200 hectares of loss over 2001-2024.
- India also gained 1.78 million hectares of tree cover during 2000-2020.
Primary forest loss
| Year | Primary forest lost (ha) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 17,700 |
| 2024 | 18,200 |
Regional drivers
- North-eastern states: shifting cultivation and logging.
- Central India: mining pressure.
- Western Ghats: roads, tourism and plantations.
Exam angle
- Global Forest Watch is a World Resources Institute platform.
- Do not confuse GFW tree cover data with the India State of Forest Report.
- Keep the headline figures: 2.31 million ha, 7.1%, 1.29 Gt.