Latest news with #ISFR
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
In 10 years, Goa loses a fifth of its tree cover
Margao: The state has lost over a fifth or 22% of its tree cover in recent years. Centre's data shows that Goa's tree cover peaked at 334sqkm in 2010-11, but fell to 258sqkm by 2021-22 — a loss of 76sqkm over a decade. This represents a 22.8% drop from the peak coverage. According to the latest data released by the Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation in the 'EnviStats India 2025: Environment Statistics' report, Goa's tree cover peaked at 334sqkm in 2010-11, but declined to just 258sqkm by 2021-22 — a loss of 76sqkm over a decade. This represents a 22.8% reduction from the peak coverage. The data shows a significant initial recovery period from 2000 to 2010-11, when tree cover expanded from a mere 62sqkm to 334sqkm — a more than five-fold increase. However, this positive trend reversed sharply after 2010-11, with consistent year-on-year losses. The steepest decline occurred between 2015-16 and 2017-18, when tree cover dropped from 323sqkm to 272sqkm — a loss of 51sqkm in just two years. Experts said this period coincides with increased development pressures and infrastructure expansion across the state. The current tree cover of 258sqkm represents approximately 7% of Goa's total area of 3,702sqkm. Activists have already been calling for immediate action to reverse this trend and protect the remaining green cover in the state. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 released by the Union environment ministry in Dec showed that from 2021 to 2023, Goa's total forest cover came down by 1.50sqkm or 150ha. Goa's total forest cover now stands at 2, loss of forest cover was higher in North Goa at 90ha, besides a loss of 60ha of forest cover in South Goa. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Greener side of Bastar as forest cover increases
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, in recent years, has been making headlines for Maoist-related campaigns involving security forces. At the same time, the extensive area has also witnessed the Chhattisgarh forest department's diligent engagement in achieving a remarkable feat of improving the forest cover density, reinforcing the region's reputation as a thriving green landscape. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR), published by the Forest Survey of India in Dehradun, reflects the results of these consistent efforts, including the utilisation of a satellite-based sensor with a spatial resolution of 23.5 metres. The report highlighted a significant enhancement in forest cover across multiple regions of the Bastar zone—an area larger than the state of Kerala and boasting several tourist attractions and sightseeing spots. With the acknowledged commitment to sustainable forest management and associated conservation initiatives in recent years, the forest department has undertaken various measures to enhance forest cover, thereby strengthening the green footprint. The progress in forest cover density is attributed to multiple factors, including continuous monitoring by the forest department, an effective soil and water conservation programme, removal of invasive weed species and community-led afforestation initiatives, as well as the deep-rooted environmental ethos of Bastar's tribal communities. 'The inspired vision of the Chhattisgarh government gave a boost to the state forest department's proactive and scientific approach that yielded impressive conservation results. The ISFR 2023 data reaffirms the state's commitment to sustainable forest where strategic interventions and active community participation has yielded a major boost on augmenting the forest cover', V Sreenivasa Rao, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, told this newspaper. Several areas in Bastar have shown an upward transition in forest classification. Notable improvements are seen in Jagdalpur Circle — covering forest divisions of Bastar, Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada and Kanker Circle that includes Keshkal, Bhanupratapur, south Kondagaon and Narayanpur forest divisions', a senior officer elucidated quoting the ISFR report. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis confirmed that approximately 152 sq km of forest area have transitioned from Moderate Dense Forest to Very Dense Forest. Additionally, 93 sq km of land have improved from non-forest to open forest, while 156 sq km have progressed from open forest to moderate dense forest.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ranthambore's tigers and their shrinking habitats
The tragic tiger-human conflict in Rajasthan's famous Ranthambore Tiger Reserve should wake up wild life experts in government for the damage they have done to the tiger reserves. In the early eighties, the famous Tiger Man, conservator Fateh Singh Rathore, fondly remembered as the only one to have given a ground strategy for tiger conservation in Ranthambore, is now lost to tiger experts in government. The tigers are in direct conflict with humans and Chief Wild Life Wardens (CWLWs) pacify them with live-baits rather than providing them a sustainable prey-base within their habitats. Segmental short-term and counter-productive solutions are often shot out as remedies to an ailing habitat. A copious loss of habitats and a decadal disappearance of forest cover is definitely the central cause of many frenzied man-animal conflicts. However, what escapes attention is the perfunctory attitude of CWLWs towards reintroduction of more predators from other habitats and different ecosystems without addressing the central cause of carrying capacity. An unresearched translocation and reintroduction disturbs prey base in forests besides many other forms of damages that it is likely to inflict both in a short-term and a long-term period. To manage predator populations. CWLWs bring live baits to forests and once this is not found enough, captive zoo animals which are no better than live baits are supplied under the cover of 'increasing prey base' in defiance of the guidelines given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA). As predators get used to live baits, they give up hunting and fearlessly cross over to any human habitat in search of standing livestock. Only two days ago, a coalition of cheetahs had crossed the border of Kuna National Park and breached the human habitat of a village killing livestock. There are many questions looking for answers in this imbroglio. The available data speaks for itself and can explain the problem more accurately. As per the India's State of Forest Report (ISFR) of 2023, the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve where the tragic killing of the Forest Ranger has an increased tiger population of 80 but the tiger habitat has shrunk by 44.57 sq kms. Similarly, its adjoining Sariska has added 30 tigers from just two in the last 15 years but lost 15.95 sq kms of habitat. This imbalance within tiger reserves is faster in many other tiger reserves of India as well. Wildlife experts know it very well that an average tiger needs at least 60 to 100 sq kms to survive and similarly, a cheetah needs a minimum of 1500 sq kms for a sustainable prey base. Of the five largest tiger reserves in Rajasthan none exceeds an area of Ranthambore Reserve which is merely 1530 sq kms with roads and villages criss-crossing all over. This habitat area is in all fairness, suitable for not more than 15 tigers or even less as there are other competing predators on the same stock of prey. Many other tiger reserves are simply broken platforms or smaller segments of drying and wilting land masses of less than 500 sq kms and some even smaller like Darrah and Shargarh in Rajasthan. If this isn't enough, the foresters fail to account that prey base is a primary requirement before releasing new predators or conserving growth of pre-existing ones. The herbivore prey base is not a free gift in a forest. It is dependent upon grasslands which are almost non-existent in a true sense of grasses which prey can actually consume. Most grasslands are converted to non-forest use such as agriculture, cultivation and mining. A phenomenal loss of 56,500 sq kms of grasslands which one can find in an official statement of Indian government to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 2019 during COP 14 is a fact. The Aravali forest range which hold most of the Rajasthan's tiger reserves has suffered highest degradation, thereby making it impossible for deer, the main prey base to sustain its population. In coming times, tigers are going to face much heat and most zoos which are keeping deer for city's ecological life may convert to prey-base farms. Shrinking habitats will bring tigers close to human populations. Due to lack of a committed policy to expand tiger habitats, CWLWs would continue to depend upon short-cut measures like offering them live-baits, which will further weaken their hunting skills. At the same time, reintroduction of new predators in their habitats will increase brutal competition for food and water. The government should undertake at least three urgent measures to address the situation. One, take non-government tiger experts on board on how to lure the tigers back into the core of forests and stop offering live-baits. Two, stop reintroduction of any more predators till forest areas are restored to match the prey need of tigers. Three, ban any more deer parks or zoos from coming up till a cradle to grave policy for zoo animals becoming part of the contract for seeking licence for a zoo and is acknowledged within the framework of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. Considering a rising fancy for wildlife and new business opportunities aligned to eco-tourism, wildlife may lose many more habitats to the construction of hotels, rail-tracks and roads. To stop man-animal conflicts, forests should be left to themselves, should not be fragmented and trespassed upon. This article is authored by Amita Singh, former professor of law and governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University and president, Asia Pacific Disaster Research Group.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Patrol teams to keep an eye on forest fires in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: The forest department has deployed special duty officials to bolster fire surveillance and protection efforts in the region's most vulnerable areas. These specially assigned forest personnel will focus on fire control, continuous surveillance and rapid response to emerging fire threats during the high-risk dry season. Dedicated patrolling teams have been mobilised across Faridabad, Gurgaon, Nuh, Rewari , Palwal and Mahendragarh as part of a summer preparedness initiative. An 11-member team each for city and Faridabad has been constituted, while other districts have around four members in their teams. This comes in the wake of a recent spate of forest fire incidents across south Haryana. Forest fires in April burned more than 100 acres of Aravalis in the city and Faridabad. In the city, divisional forest officer (DFO) Sunder Sambharya has been directed to intensify monitoring in ecologically sensitive and historically vulnerable zones such as Bandhwari and Mangar Bani, known for their dense vegetation and environmental significance. The teams are carrying out surveillance of 80-100 acres in a day. Sambharya said, "We aim to carry out the surveillance till the end of May. We can increase it further in June as well, depending on the weather conditions." Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Environmental activist Vivek Kamboj said, "Deploying special duty forest officials is a crucial step in safeguarding our forests from the increasing threat of fires." "Continuous surveillance and rapid response are essential to protect our green cover and biodiversity, especially in vulnerable areas. This proactive approach not only helps in immediate fire control but also in long-term conservation efforts," Kamboj said. Under the latest directives by the forest department, roster duties have been formulated to ensure that teams operate on a rotational basis, maintaining 24/7 vigilance in fire-prone zones. A forest official said, "Each team is reporting daily to their respective DFOs, with oversight by range officers, who are submitting regular updates on the ground situation and preventive actions taken." This deployment follows a troubling trend highlighted in the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, which noted a dramatic rise in forest fire incidents across Haryana. According to the report, fire incidents in the state nearly doubled from 82 in 2022–23 to 166 in 2023–24, with significant spikes in districts like Ambala, Faridabad, Panchkula and Yamunanagar. Faridabad, which reported no fires in 2022–23, registered 12 fire incidents in 2023–24, indicating an alarming shift in fire vulnerability. Despite this rise, the ISFR noted that a vast majority of Haryana's forest cover (93.9%, or 1,680 sq km) remains not prone to fires. However, about 4.5% (79.7 sq km) is considered moderately prone and 1.6% (28.9 sq km) is highly fire-prone — areas that now form a priority in the new deployment strategy.
Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Himachal: Rain keeping forest fires low this season, says chief conservator
The recent spell of rain has brought temporary respite for the Himachal Pradesh forest department helping to keep the number of forest fires relatively low at the onset of the fire season. However, officials warn that the risk remains high as the state moves into its peak fire months. 'The fire season in Himachal Pradesh has officially begun,' said K. Thirumal, chief conservator of forests, Shimla circle, while addressing a press conference on Monday. 'Thanks to recent rainfall, fire incidents are currently fewer. So far, only 90 forest fire cases have been reported statewide.' Himachal typically records between 1,500 to 2,000 forest fire incidents annually during the fire season, which runs from April 15 to July 15 or until the monsoon sets in. The forest department attributes this year's delayed onset to improved weather conditions but remains cautious due to the state's high forest coverage—68% of its total geographical area—well above the national average. The India state of forest report (ISFR), 2023, states a 14-fold increase in fire incidents compared to the previous season. While 704 incidents were recorded in 2022-2023, the number surged to 10,136 in 2023-2024. In preparation for the ongoing season, the forest department has issued a statewide alert and is emphasising early response mechanisms and community engagement. 'We are running awareness campaigns, deploying personnel and appealing to citizens for cooperation,' Thirumal said. 'Our block officers are working closely with local communities to ensure timely response to any fire outbreaks,' he added. The department has called on local residents, panchayats, and adventure tourism operators to remain vigilant. Since forest fires are now officially recognised as natural disasters, each panchayat has appointed a disaster 'mitra' under the Disaster Management Act to support firefighting efforts alongside forest staff. 'Preventing forest fires is a shared responsibility. Public participation is vital in both preventing and responding to fire incidents,' said Thirumal.
