Rapid Fire
GFW 2024 Report on Indian Forests
- 16 Jun 2025
- 2 min read
The Global Forest Watch (GFW), an open-source forest monitoring platform developed by the US-based research organisation World Resources Institute (WRI), has recently released data highlighting India’s deforestation and forest degradation trends from 2001 to 2024.
Key Findings of the WRI Report on India’s Forests:
- Extent of Forest & Tree Cover Changes (2001–2024):
- Between 2001 and 2024, India lost 2.31 million hectares of tree cover, a 7.1% decline since 2000, causing 1.29 gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions.
- In 2024 alone, India lost 150,000 hectares of natural forest, resulting in approximately 68 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
- Primary forest loss increased from 17,700 hectares in 2023 to 18,200 hectares in 2024.
- Between 2002 and 2024, 348,000 hectares (5.4%) of humid primary forests (mature tropical forests not recently cleared) were lost, accounting for 15% of total tree cover loss.
- Tree cover loss due to fires amounted to 36,200 hectares from 2001 to 2024, peaking at 2,770 hectares in 2008.
- Despite losses, India gained 1.78 million hectares of tree cover between 2000 and 2020, contributing 1.4% to global net gains (Top 3 Gainers: Russia, Canada, US).
- Between 2001 and 2024, India lost 2.31 million hectares of tree cover, a 7.1% decline since 2000, causing 1.29 gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions.
- Key Drivers of Deforestation:
- Northeastern states lead in forest loss due to shifting cultivation, logging, and infrastructure. Central India suffers from mining, while the Western Ghats face road, tourism, and plantation pressures.
- Globally, India ranked second in deforestation (2015–2020), losing 668,000 ha/year (FAO).
- Northeastern states lead in forest loss due to shifting cultivation, logging, and infrastructure. Central India suffers from mining, while the Western Ghats face road, tourism, and plantation pressures.
| Read More: Reviving India’s Forests, 18th India State of Forest Report 2023 |
