Global report on decline in forest cover devoid of facts: Govt to NGT

The affidavit said that the country’s wood screen was reported successful FSI’s biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR) and is based connected internationally accepted criteria. However, it added, GFW’s parameter for wood screen was not based connected these internationally accepted criteria, and it mightiness person a antithetic methodology and explanation for assessment.

“As per the ISFR 2021 compared to SFR 2001, determination is simply a nett summation of 58,891 sq km successful wood screen and 14,277 sq km successful histrion screen successful the state successful the past 2 decades. Total summation successful wood and histrion screen of the state from SFR 2001 to ISFR 2021 is 74,168 sq km. Hence, arsenic per the supra study determination is nett summation successful the wood and histrion screen of the country,” the affidavit stated. ISFR 2021 is the latest data, with the existent wood survey cycle, ISFR 2023, delayed truthful far.

While preparing the ISFR, each lands measuring much than 1 hectare with a histrion canopy of much than 10%, irrespective of ownership and ineligible status, including orchards, bamboo and palm, are defined arsenic wood cover, though histrion patches of little than 1 hectare extracurricular wood areas are besides considered. Some experts person questioned this inclusion of tree-lined avenues, orchard plantations and adjacent privately owned tiny areas successful the wood cover.

According to the GFW data, the “tree cover” was derived from outer information and it does not discern the onshore use, arsenic per its methodology. It relies connected a standardised explanation of “forest” adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, which takes into relationship biophysical criteria — histrion height, canopy cover, grade of trees — and onshore usage criteria.

The affidavit besides challenged the GFW’s findings that an mean of 51 cardinal tonnes of c dioxide equivalent per twelvemonth was released into the ambiance arsenic a effect of the histrion screen nonaccomplishment successful India. It said that the question of specified CO2 emissions does not originate arsenic determination was nary alteration successful wood and histrion cover.

“… the Global Forest Watch is devoid of the facts and crushed world and internationally accepted norms,” the affidavit added.

According to the GFW information released successful April 2024, India mislaid 2.33 cardinal hectares oregon 6% of histrion screen betwixt 2001 and 2023 — 60% of it successful 5 Northeastern states of Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur. It attributed astir 18% of the full histrion screen nonaccomplishment to the diminution successful humid superior forests by 4.14 lakh hectares.