Key facts
- Government auditors found India's Green India Mission achieved only 2.43% of its forest expansion pledge.
- The government's forest cover reports have been criticized for including plantations and orchards in calculations.
- Forest land diversion for development projects has accelerated, with mining being the largest sector.
- Madhya Pradesh accounts for nearly a quarter of all forest land diverted nationwide since 2021.
- The Great Nicobar Project involves diverting 13,075 hectares of forest land for infrastructure.
- Experts question the ecological value of compensatory afforestation compared to diverse natural forests.
A decade after India launched the Green India Mission to expand its forest cover, government auditors have revealed a stark shortfall, with the program achieving only a fraction of its goals. The findings, released last week, indicate a 97.57% deficit from the initial 2014 pledge, prompting auditors to describe the progress as 'negligible.'
This official assessment contrasts sharply with the government's portrayal of forest cover growth. Critics, including former civil servants and environmental consultants like Pooja Choksi, point to a broadened definition of 'forests' that includes plantations, orchards, and bamboo and palm groves, inflating the reported figures. Choksi noted that the government has defended its methodology, stating it aligns with international standards.
Simultaneously, India has seen a significant diversion of forest land for development projects. Over the last five years, an area roughly equivalent to Hong Kong has been approved for projects, with mining, road construction, and irrigation being the primary drivers. Madhya Pradesh, home to the country's largest forest area, leads in land diversion, followed by Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh.
The environmental impact of these diversions is substantial. Research in central Indian coalmine regions has shown that beyond tree loss, these projects lead to shrinking water bodies, degraded soil quality, and diminished ecosystems. A particularly contentious project is proposed for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which would involve diverting over 13,000 hectares of forest land and felling at least 700,000 trees for a trans-shipment port, airport, and township.
Geoscientist CP Rajendran has criticized the Great Nicobar Project, deeming it 'geologically impossible' and ecologically destructive, while arguing the government uses natural security as a pretext for commercial development. The project faces legal challenges and opposition from environmentalists and the Congress party.
In response to land diversion, India has invested in compensatory afforestation. However, experts like Choksi argue that this approach is too focused on 'green cover' and neglects the ecological value of diverse, natural forests. She emphasizes that the type and location of planted trees, and the purpose of planting, significantly influence biodiversity outcomes, with monoculture plantations offering less ecological value than naturally diverse forest patches.