Forests are highly critical to the environment due to the multitude of functions they serve like acting as carbon sinks, supporting biodiversity, and providing livelihood resources. The Indian government has taken steps to conserve forests by declaring certain lands as ‘reserved forests’, which provides them with legal protection. Meticulous classification and demarcation are carried out for forest conservation, resulting in various categories such as Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, Village Forests, etc., based on their characteristics and administration. In India, the different types of forests are also categorized based on rainfall patterns.
Types of Forests in India
1. Reserved Forests: Reserved forests are those that have the highest degree of protection. They are designated as such by the State Government on any forest land that is a property of the government. Access to these forests is tightly controlled, limiting local people unless specific permission from a Forest Officer is obtained.
2. Protected Forests: Land areas other than reserved forests can be declared as protected forests by the State Government. These forests see a greater level of human activity, and the government retains the power to regulate the use of these forests.
3. Village Forests: These are forests whose rights, initially vested with the government, are assigned to a village community by the State Government.
Categorization of Forests Based on Rainfall
Tropical Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen Forests: These forests are predominantly found in areas with high rainfall, such as the western slope of the Western Ghats, northeastern hills, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Trees in these areas can reach up to 60 metres in height.
Tropical Deciduous Forests: These are the most common type of forests in India, often known as monsoon forests. They spread over regions where the rainfall is between 70-200 cm and are divided into moist and dry deciduous types.
Montane Forests: These forests are found in mountainous regions, with a natural climate-induced change in vegetation. There are two types: northern and southern mountain forests.
Tropical Thorn Forests: These types of forests grow in areas receiving less than 50 cm of rainfall and primarily comprise grasses and shrubs.
Swamp Forests: Typically found along the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the delta area of major rivers, these forests are dense, with a limited variety of plant species.
Forest Cover Status in India
According to the India State of Forest Report 2021, the country’s forest cover has witnessed an increase, adding 1,540 square kilometres in the last two years. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra. However, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, despite having a high percentage of their total geographical area under forests, have reported a loss in forest cover.
The Need for Forest Conservation
Forests play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. They act as carbon sinks by absorbing CO2 emissions, which helps mitigate climate change impacts. Forests also have economic value as they provide timber and non-timber resources, serve tourism purposes, and support livelihoods of communities living on the fringes. Hence, it is crucial to conserve and sustainably use forest resources.
Measures Taken for Forest Conservation in India
The Indian government has been proactive in forest conservation. Apart from declaring certain lands as reserved forests, it has also been promoting afforestation and reforestation activities. Besides, the government has also placed regulations on forest exploitation and encourages community participation in forest management. Legal provisions like the Forest (Conservation) Act have been enacted to control deforestation and diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. The government also supports scientific research for forest conservation through various programs and institutions.