KOLKATA — While India’s green cover is expanding, a new study by scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur warns that the health of the country’s forests is in decline. The research, published in ScienceDirect, claims that trees are becoming less efficient at photosynthesis, a critical process for their survival and the broader ecosystem.
The study, titled “Weakening of forest carbon stocks due to declining Ecosystem Photosynthetic Efficiency under the current and future climate change scenarios in India,” found that the photosynthetic efficiency of Indian forests declined by 5% between 2010 and 2019 compared to the previous decade. This decline was most significant in “pristine forests” located in the Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, and the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
According to researchers Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath and Rahul Kashyap, the primary cause of this decline is global warming, which leads to reduced soil moisture and higher air temperatures. Other contributing factors include natural events like wildfires and landslides, as well as human activities such as deforestation, mining, and other developmental projects.
Threats to Biodiversity and Climate Resilience
The degradation of forest health poses serious threats that extend beyond the environment. The study warns that it could jeopardize biodiversity, impact timber production and the livelihoods of forest dwellers, and undermine India’s long-term climate resilience. The lead author, Rahul Kashyap, stated that the degradation in ecologically fragile regions could lead to more frequent climatic extremes.
Despite the Forest Survey of India’s 2023 report showing a 20% rise in total tree green cover under agroforestry over the last decade, the IIT Kharagpur scientists caution against relying solely on forest-based climate mitigation. They project that climate change and human intervention could lead to the “savannisation” of India’s forests in the future, further weakening their ability to act as carbon sinks.
Recommendations for Sustainability
To address these alarming findings, the study recommends several measures. These include:
• Preservation of indigenous forests.
• Sustainable forest management practices.
• Scientific afforestation programs.
• A substantial reduction in carbon emissions.
• Advanced carbon capture technologies.
The researchers emphasize that these steps are crucial for achieving sustainability and helping India meet its net-zero emissions target by 2070.