Offsetting forest cover loss in Northeast

A decrease in forest cover in the country's Northeast region is bad news. If gradual loss of for- est cover is not checked, harsher climate extremes will grip the entire region in coming decades. The 'India State of Forest Report(ISFR)-2021' has revealed that the loss of forest cover in the region is to the extent of 1020 sq. km when the country recorded an increase of 1,540 sq. km forest cover at the national level. Climate hotspot projections 2030, 2050 and 2085 in the report indicate that the North-eastern States and Upper Malaba Coast of India are projected to experience the highest increase in rainfall, whereas states like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are projected to experience least increase or sometimes even decline in rainfall. Worsening climate conditions will prove disastrous for the majority of the population in the region who are primarily dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. According to the report total forest cover of the region is estimated to be 1,69,521 sq. km which is 64.66% of its geographical area. The total forest cover of the country is 21.71 sq. km of total geographical area which is quite less and further decease in forest cover in the region will push the country to a precarious situation and result in difficulty to manage climate extremes. Loss of forest cover in the region is widespread and has been recorded in all north-eastern states. The eight states of the region account for 23.75% of total forest cover of the country and this huge carbon sink play a critical role in climate change mitigation for the entire globe which needs to be recognized and acknowledged. The biennial assessment of forest and tree cover has brought to the fore the most important but unsettled debate for the northeast region over making a choice between development and environment. The rationale approach is to fine balance the two which is easier said than done. In a bid to fulfil development aspirations of people, the States in the region have pushed mega projects of connectivity, hydropower generation, oil, coal, and other mineral extraction. Implementation of these projects is not possible without diversion of forests or tree felling. There are check and balances like compensatory afforestation to compensate for the loss of forest due to implementation of these projects, but the States have failed to ensure. With more mega projects in the pipeline further loss of forest cover in the region is inevitable. Pushing an alternative development that prioritizes environment and forest conservation over development projects is not possible unless the States are provided huge financial assistance in the form of grants by the Central Government to support environment-friendly development projects such eco-tourism development, cane and bamboo-based livelihood projects, textile and handicraft project, organic agriculture and horticulture projects, solar power, and small hydropower projects. Facilitating marketing support, ensuring remunerative prices, subsidising intra-regional passenger travel and goods movement are also critical to sustain these environment-friendly projects. Development of skilled workforce for services sector can create livelihood opportunities for the farm families displaced by extreme climate-driven disaster so that those families can augment their household income and savings for a comfortable life. Worsening flood and erosion problems in Assam have aggravated farmers' woes and mere announcement of livelihood schemes and projects and incentives cannot help them build resilience against climate extremes. Hand-holding support is required to help sustain eco-tourism projects or various entrepreneurial ventures. If other states want the northeast region to conserve the forest cover, they need to create a huge market for unique handicraft products and stop dumping machine-made products in the region. To help farmers in the region double their income the government must ensure procurement of their produce and reverse the movement of thousands of trucks bringing food grains to the region from other states. Regeneration of lost forest cover and ecosystem in the region is also critical to reduce disruption in rainfall pattern but to ensure protection of forests from timber smugglers every state in the region needs to raise huge forest protection force. Current state economies of the states in the region do not have enough revenue surplus to spare a huge allocation for raising the required forest protection force. The states providing financial incentives to forest fringe dwellers to augment household income in lieu of their services in forest protection can be a viable solution but will require required financial support by the Central Government. Rising incidents of man-animal conflict all over the region, rise in number of people displaced by disasters like flood, erosion, forest fire are indicators of loss of forest cover and alarming shrinkage of natural habitats. These problems will get worse if the loss of forest cover in the region continues unabated. It is hoped that the ISFR-2021 will be an eye opener for all states in the Northeast.