Between 2015 and 2019 India lost 18 sq km of forest for every 1 sq km it gained, according to a new IIT Bombay study. Using high-accuracy satellite data, researchers found all states suffered net forest loss, with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal alone making up nearly half of the 1,032.89 sq km lost.
While 56.3 sq km of forest cover was added, over half of it was fragmented “islets” with poor biodiversity support. Experts warn that such patchy growth can’t replace large, connected forests that sustain wildlife and prevent ecological collapse.
Tigers and other species needing wide habitats face increased threats, and fragmented forests can worsen human-wildlife conflict. The team urges a shift from counting trees to planning forests with “structural connectivity” for long-term health.
These findings also contrast with official Forest Survey of India (FSI) data, which claims an overall forest cover increase. The difference lies in definitions and measurement methods.
The warning is reinforced by the 2024 Nature Conservation Index, which ranks India 176 out of 180 countries for biodiversity protection among the world worst citing severe habitat loss, pollution, and weak conservation laws.
On paper, India forests may look greener. On the ground, they’re disappearing faster than we can replace them.