Forests

India is fast losing its agroforests to make room for more farms

Between 2010 and 2018, some regions lost up to 50 per cent of their large trees
India is fast losing its agroforests to make room for more farms
Agroforest trees are remnants of forests cleared for agricultural purposes, and they provide essential resources such as fruits, fuelwood, sap, medicine, mulch and wood for both humans and animals.Photograpghs by Surya Sen/CSE
Published on: 

Thre's been a dramatic loss of large trees from farmlands across India over the past decade, raising concerns over environmental impacts and contemporary agricultural practices.

Between 2010 and 2018, some regions lost up to 50 per cent of their large trees. Using satellite imagery from 2010 to 2022, researchers discovered that approximately 5.6 million large trees disappeared between 2018 and 2022 alone.

India's land-cover map indicates that 56 per cent of the country is covered by farmland, with 20 per cent by forests.
India's land-cover map indicates that 56 per cent of the country is covered by farmland, with 20 per cent by forests.

The research pinpointed regions in central India, such as Maharashtra and Telangana, as hotspots for the loss of trees, with these areas shedding nearly 2.5 million trees between 2011 and 2018. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were found to have the highest densities of tree loss, with about 22 trees lost per hectare.

There's an urgent need to address the loss of large trees in India’s agricultural landscape, as these trees are vital to the environment and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
There's an urgent need to address the loss of large trees in India’s agricultural landscape, as these trees are vital to the environment and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
Deforestation
Forests
agroforests
Down To Earth
www.downtoearth.org.in