Meghalaya has witnessed a significant loss of 84.07 square kilometers of forest cover between 2021 and 2023, according to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The report, released by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, highlights a concerning trend of deforestation across the northeastern states.
The northeastern region, which covers only 7.98% of India’s land area, contributes a substantial 21.08% to the country’s forest and tree cover. However, human activities such as agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and settlements are contributing to the loss of forest cover. Forest officials in Meghalaya also pointed to jhum cultivation, a traditional slash-and-burn farming practice, as a key factor in deforestation.
The report revealed that except for Sikkim, which saw a slight increase in forest cover by 2 square kilometers, other northeastern states like Nagaland, Tripura, and Assam also reported losses. Nagaland had the highest loss at 125.22 sq km, followed by Tripura with 100.22 sq km, and Assam with 83.92 sq km.