26 Apr 2024 Global Forest Watch (GFW)
THIS ARTICLE COVERS ‘DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS’ AND THE TOPIC DETAILS OF ”Global Forest Watch (GFW)”. THIS TOPIC IS RELEVANT IN THE “Environment” SECTION OF THE UPSC CSE EXAM.
Why in the news?
The Global Forest Watch, which tracks forest changes in near real-time using satellite data and other sources, said the country lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest (4.1 per cent) from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 per cent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.
Global Forest Watch (GFW) is an online platform that provides near-real-time data and tools for monitoring and managing forests worldwide. It’s an initiative led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in collaboration with various partners.
The key finding of the Data:
- The loss of primary forests–those untouched by people and sometimes known as old-growth forests—in the tropics declined 9% in 2023 compared to 2022.
- Deforestation globally rose by 3.2% in 2023.
- Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bolivia topped the ranking of tropical countries with the most primary forest losses.
- From 2001 to 2022, Indian forests released 51 million tons while absorbing 141 million tons of CO2 annually.
- India has lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six per cent decrease in tree cover.
- The five states in India accounted for 60 per cent of all tree cover losses between 2001 and 2023.
- Assam had the maximum tree cover loss, at 324,000 hectares, compared to an average of 66,600 hectares.
- Mizoram lost 312,000 hectares of tree cover, Arunachal Pradesh 262,000 hectares, Nagaland 259,000 hectares, and Manipur 240,000 hectares of forest cover.
- From 2001 to 2022, Odisha had the highest rate of tree cover loss due to fires, with an average of 238 hectares lost per year.
The platform allows users to access interactive maps, analyse forest trends, and utilise various forest monitoring tools, including forest loss alerts, fire alerts, and land use classification. GFW also provides data on forest-related topics such as biodiversity, carbon emissions, and land tenure.
The Global Forest Watch refers to tree cover when discussing forest extent, loss, and gain. Tree cover is a convenient metric for monitoring forest change because it is easily measurable from space using freely available, medium-resolution satellite imagery. This means tree cover can be monitored frequently, cheaply, and over large scales.
The tree cover loss data featured on the Global Forest Watch represents the best available spatial figures on how forests change worldwide. However, changes have occurred to the data over time due to algorithm adjustments and improved satellite data.
Deforestation in India:
Deforestation is a global environmental issue with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, and human well-being. India is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, with many flora and fauna. Deforestation leads to habitat loss, endangering numerous plant and animal species. Many species are pushed to extinction due to the destruction of their habitats.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the rate of deforestation in India was 668,000 hectares per year between 2015 and 2020, the second highest worldwide. The data showed India lost 35,900 hectares of tree cover from 2002 to 2022, with 2008 recording the maximum tree cover loss due to fires (3,000 hectares).
Here are some key points about deforestation in India:
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- Deforestation is driven by various factors, including agricultural expansion (such as clearing land for farming or cattle ranching), logging for timber and wood products, infrastructure development (roads, dams, etc.), urbanization, mining, and wildfires, both natural and human-induced.
- Logging for timber, wood products, and fuelwood is another significant cause of deforestation in India. The construction of roads, highways, dams, reservoirs, and other infrastructure projects often necessitates clearing large swathes of forest land. Rapid urbanization and industrialization also lead to encroachment into forested areas for residential, commercial, and industrial development.
- Mining activities for minerals, coal, and other resources result in clearing forests and destroying ecosystems. India’s rapidly growing population puts pressure on land resources, leading to the conversion of forest land for settlement, agriculture, and other human activities.
- Deforestation has severe environmental consequences, including habitat loss and fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecosystems, soil erosion, alteration of water cycles, and increased greenhouse gas emissions leading to climate change.
- Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Deforestation often negatively impacts local communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods, including indigenous peoples and forest-dependent populations.
Way forward:
Conserving trees is essential for maintaining biodiversity, mitigating climate change, preserving ecosystems, and ensuring the well-being of communities that depend on forests. Here are some effective ways to conserve trees:
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- Establish and enforce protected areas, national parks, and forest reserves to safeguard valuable forest ecosystems from deforestation, illegal logging, and other destructive activities. Strict enforcement of laws and regulations is crucial for effective protection.
- Encourage sustainable forestry practices that prioritize long-term forest health and biodiversity conservation. This includes selective logging, reduced-impact logging techniques, and reforestation efforts to replenish harvested areas.
- Involve local communities, indigenous peoples, and forest-dependent populations in forest management and conservation efforts. Recognize and uphold indigenous peoples’ land rights, tenure, and local communities historically inhabited and managed forested areas.
- Undertake reforestation and afforestation initiatives to restore degraded landscapes, rehabilitate deforested areas, and establish new forested areas where suitable. Promote urban forestry initiatives to plant and maintain trees in cities and urban areas.
- Raise awareness among the general public, policymakers, and businesses about the importance of trees and forests for environmental conservation and human well-being. Implement policies and incentives that promote tree conservation, such as tax incentives for reforestation, subsidies for sustainable forestry practices, and regulations to curb deforestation and illegal logging.
Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 26th April 2024
Prelims Practice Question:
Q. Consider the following statements regarding Global Forest Watch (GFW):
- It’s an initiative led by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to monitor global forests in near real-time using satellite data and other sources.
- According to the latest data from Global Forest Watch, India’s tree cover has increased since 2000.
- Deforestation worldwide increased by 3.2% in 2023.
- Brazil topped the ranking of tropical countries with the most primary forest losses.
- Assam had the maximum tree cover losses between 2001 and 2023 in India.
How many of the above statements are correct?
A. Only two
B. Only three
C. Only four
D. All five
ANSWER: C
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. “How has deforestation in India impacted the local ecosystems, and what measures are being taken to mitigate these effects?”
Q. Critically examine the impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and biodiversity in India.
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