Conservation status of forests in India: a cause for worry?

Abstract

In the last few decades there has been a growing concern about the alarming increase in the rate of deforestation of the tropical forests and its impact on their biodiversity. This concern seems to be well placed considering that the tropical forests, which account for only about 7% of the total area, contain over 50% of the earth's biodiversity. In this paper, we address the conservation status of forests in India in the light of the worldwide view on this problem. We examine the changes in the forest area in the country for two time periods: (a) between 1900 and 2000, and (b) between 1990 and 1995. Our analyses suggest that the status of Indian forests in post-independence India has deteriorated far less when compared to pre-independence period, as also far less when compared to countries such as Brazil and Indonesia. However, it is necessary to continue keeping a close vigil on the rates of deforestation and formulate stronger conservation strategies that would strengthen further the conservation status of the forests in the country.