Meghalaya Loses 84.07 sq km Forest Cover: Northeast Records 327.30 sq km Decline

Guwahati, Dec 21: Northeast India, one of the nation’s biodiversity hotspots, lost 327.30 sq km of forest cover between 2021 and 2023, according to the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023).

Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav released the report today at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. The ISFR, published biennially by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) since 1987, comprehensively assesses the nation’s forest and tree resources.

While the Minister celebrated a nationwide increase of 1,445 sq km in forest and tree cover since 2021, the Northeast region, acknowledged as one of India’s four prominent biodiversity hotspots, showed a worrying decline.

Meghalaya, known as the “Scotland of the East,” recorded a loss of 84.07 sq km of forest cover during the period. The report did not attribute a specific cause for this reduction, but deforestation in the region is often linked to human activities, including agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and settlement growth. Traditional Jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation)—a centuries-old farming practice—remains critical. This method involves clearing forest patches for agriculture, which are later abandoned as soil fertility declines, prompting farmers to move to new areas. Although culturally significant, Jhum cultivation profoundly impacts Meghalaya’s forests.

Despite accounting for only 7.98% of India’s land area, the Northeast contributes 21.08% of the country’s total forest and tree cover. However, the challenges of deforestation and habitat fragmentation continue to threaten sustainable conservation efforts in this ecologically rich region.

“A prevalent agricultural technique in this region is known as shifting or Jhum cultivation. This method involves the conversion of forest areas into agricultural areas by local communities,” the report stated.

Among Northeastern states, Nagaland recorded the highest forest loss with 125.22 sq km, followed by Tripura with 100.22 sq km, and Assam with 83.92 sq km.

The report highlighted that in Tripura, large-scale rubber plantations have emerged as a significant driver of deforestation over the past decade. “Rubber cultivation has rapidly expanded due to the state’s tropical climate and ideal growing conditions. However, this has raised concerns about biodiversity loss, as vast areas of natural forests have been replaced with monoculture plantations, disrupting the ecological balance,” the report noted.

Despite these challenges, the Northeast remains a critical ecological asset for India, requiring urgent and sustainable conservation efforts to protect its unique biodiversity and forest resources.

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