India has witnessed a dramatic decline in large trees across its farmlands over the past decade, with nearly 5.6 million trees disappearing between 2018 and 2022 alone, a new study has revealed. Researchers using satellite imagery from 2010 to 2022 found that in some regions, up to 50% of large trees have been lost, raising serious concerns about the impact on biodiversity, soil health, and climate resilience.
The study identified central Indian states like Maharashtra and Telangana as hotspots for tree loss, with nearly 2.5 million trees vanishing between 2011 and 2018. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh recorded the highest densities of tree loss, with about 22 trees disappearing per hectare.
India’s land-cover data shows that 56% of the country is under farmland, while forests cover only 20%. Large trees play a crucial role in balancing agricultural landscapes, providing shade, improving soil fertility, preventing erosion, and supporting wildlife. Their rapid decline highlights the increasing pressures of intensive farming, land-use changes, and deforestation.
The findings have raised alarms among environmentalists and policymakers, who emphasize the need for sustainable agricultural practices and agroforestry initiatives to mitigate the environmental fallout. With India facing rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and depleting groundwater, preserving tree cover in farmlands could be a critical step in strengthening climate resilience and securing long-term agricultural productivity.