Guwahati, Dec 31: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has called on the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to take urgent measures against the alarming decline in forest cover in Assam and the Northeast, as highlighted by the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.
The report reveals a significant reduction of 83.92 sq. km in Assam’s forest cover between 2021 and 2023. Gogoi emphasized the critical ecological role of Assam’s forests, which store an estimated 271.37 million tonnes of carbon and serve as a vital carbon sink.
“The continued loss of forest cover exacerbates climate change, threatens biodiversity, and destabilizes ecosystems crucial for local livelihoods,” Gogoi wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav He attributed the decline to deforestation, illegal logging, and encroachment, citing cases like the diversion of Geleky forest land for infrastructure projects, including a commando camp, as examples of unchecked development.
The MP highlighted the cascading impacts of forest degradation, including increased human-wildlife conflict, invasive species destabilizing ecosystems, and the jeopardization of local livelihoods, which intensifies poverty and social unrest. He also pointed out risks posed by projects like the Bokakhat dumping site near protected forests.
To address these challenges, Gogoi proposed a comprehensive strategy, including:
1.Deploying more forest guards and leveraging GPS tracking and drones to monitor illegal activities.
2.Enhancing collaboration between forest protection forces, police, and revenue departments.
3. Fostering local participation through forest management.
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