DEFORESTATION IN

INDIA

Abstract
The biggest threat to the global ecosystem is deforestation. Deforestation has so many
negative effects on the planet that it may eventually put an end to life as we know it.
Deforestation has several causes. This study addresses the consequences and root causes of
deforestation.

Introduction
Forests have the role of an important part of the wealth of any country. In our nation, forest
preservation gets of major importance. The preservation is taken over by the government
and Government Forest Department is in charge. Forests play a major influence on the
climate; for they attract rain and preserve moisture. It is important matter forests do in a
dry country like India. The surrounding atmosphere always cools by evaporation from the
eaves of a tree by giving off moisture. The moisture is in condensed form and it was
dissolved in rain. Any kind of destruction of forests quickly changes the climate of the whole
district as a consequence. The first Government Forest Act came into being in India in 1865.
This law ceded the power to the princely states for the promulgation of laws aimed at
protecting the valuable trees in the Indian forests. Indian Forest Act of 1927 which prevails
in most of the states is the revised version of the Indian Forest Act of 1878.

Deforestation
Deforestation is the term for the destruction of forests. The ecology and human lives are
seriously affected by deforestation. India has a total forest area of around 75 million
hectares, according to a survey by the forest department. Only approximately 17 percent of
the region is covered by forest, according to recent satellite photography data. Every year,
1.3 million hectares of forest are lost in India. The deforestation in the hilly terrain is so
severe that it has a negative impact on the ecology and economy of the region. The
Himalayas’ native vegetation has been severely degraded, which has led to the gradual loss
of organic resources. The natural habitats of the flora and fauna are disturbed as a result of
overcrowding, industrialization, urbanization, road construction, mining, and other
development activities, placing great strain on the available living resources. Numerous
plant and animal species are at risk of going extinct or are in danger of extinction. Several
unfavorable circumstances, such as landslides, droughts, floods, storms, earthquakes,
diseases, water and air pollution, and human involvement, can also result in the destruction
of forests. The loss of forest vegetation may also be caused by other unfavorable conditions
including unstable soil, aridity, swampiness, biotic agencies, economic exploitation, etc.
India has some of the richest natural diversity in the world, yet it is slowly vanishing as a
result of the aforementioned issues. According to an FAO report, India had an annual
deforestation rate of 0.6% (0.34 million hectares between 1981 and 1990). As said by
Ravindra Nath and Hall (1944), 144 million hectares were annually planted with trees. India
had 70.6 million hectares of total forested land in 1990, of which 27% were commercial
plantations, primarily made up of eucalyptus, teak, and pine. According to Khoshod (1986),
there was around 7000 million ha of forests in the world in 1900. It was down to 2890
million ha by 1975. If the current pattern of deforestation continues, the total area covered
by forests worldwide will decrease to around 2370 million ha by the year 2000 AD. the
removal of forestland in the ecologically fragile Himalayas region has already begun to
experience negative effects, including a growing water shortage, frequent landslides,
increasing floods, high river sedimentation, and a lack of fuel and fodder. and a reduction in
grassland. The processes that support life are disrupted by deforestation. The depth of the
underground water table is rising steadily.
During the summer, a large portion of the country experiences drought, which causes well
tubes, wells, lakes, and other water sources to dry up earlier than predicted.
The oak woods of Kumaon and the Garhwal Himalaya sustain the general ecosystem, and
the locals rely heavily on these forests for food, fuel, and some other essentials. But as a
result of people's growing needs, oak woodlands are currently being destroyed. The
environment has changed significantly as a result of this. Oak-related communities are
destroyed. The loss of oak-related shrubs and medicinal herbs could result from this. This
accessibility to the ancient animal connection in the hill ecosystem would be severed, and
there would be less fodder.
The issue of deforestation was a top priority at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
According to UNCED's Agenda 21, "Deforestation is a result of many causes, some natural
but others primarily due to human development, such as inappropriate land tenure systems
and incentives, expansion of agricultural areas, increasing demand for forest products, and
lack of information about and understanding of the value of forests."

Eco-Social and Environmental Impact of

Deforestation
 Loss of topsoil: Given that it takes nature 1,000 years to develop an inch of soil, it is
almost remarkable that 12,000 Mt of India's topsoil is being lost to the rivers each
year, according to a story in the Economist and London (10.1. September 24, 1986).
 Food grain loss: Every year, the nation loses 300–500 Lakh tonnes of food grains due
to soil erosion.
  Flood-related losses: The area impacted by flooding increased dramatically from an
average of 64 Mha per year in the 1950s to 9 Mha in the 1980s. The loss caused by
floods alone between 1981 and 1986 was Rs. 50,000 million.
 The entire Himalayan ecosystem is in danger and is severely out of balance as a
result of thinning snowlines and perennials.

Causes Of Deforestation
1. The creation of ravines: There is a significant risk of soil erosion for the forests and
agricultural area adjacent to the ravines of large rivers (Yamuna and Chambal). As soon as
ravines are created, they keep destroying the vegetation.
2. Population growth: India's population, which was 36 crores in 1951, has increased. And in
recent years, it has increased to 1.22 billion. A growing population necessitates more living
space. As a result, they practice deforestation.
3. Fuel wood: For fuel wood, the greatest amount of forest flora is destroyed. Nearly 85% of
the entire amount of fuel used is wood, with only 15% used in urban areas. In 1987, cities
consumed 134 million tonnes of firewood annually. In India, there was a 235 million cubic
meters annual demand for firewood, according to a Forest Survey of India estimate from
1987. Fuel wood is a significant cause of deforestation, thus.
4. Timber: The destruction of forest trees is primarily caused by the lumber and plywood
businesses.
The allowed cut of lumber from forests, according to the 1987 Indian Forest Survey, was
only 12 million cubic meters, compared to an annual demand of more than 27 million cubic
meters.
5. Forest encroachment: Tribal groups invading forest land for agriculture and other uses is
another factor contributing to deforestation in India. Approximately 7 million acres of Indian
forest land have been invaded for agricultural purposes, according to a forest survey. Even
though such land contributes significantly to agricultural production, it still creates
environmental hazards. Therefore, converting forest land to agricultural land is not ideal.

Conclusion
The environment is being threatened by deforestation. If this issue is not dealt with right
away, it will be detrimental to the very continuation of life on Earth. The earth's climate is
balanced thanks to the forest. Our planet's climate will become unbalanced as a result of
deforestation.
Bibliography

1. Effects of mining on the Environment in the state of Jharkhand, India by Dr. Nitish
Priyadarshini.

2. https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/forests?
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%20India%20is%20the,ranches%2C%20loggers%20and%20plantation
%20corporations

4. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/66710