Forests play a significant role in preserving biodiversity, balancing the ecological system, and helping in reducing the adverse impacts of climate change. From supplying oxygen to acting as carbon sequestration, forests have multifarious functions. With the indiscriminate cutting of trees and forests, less carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increases over a period of time. In fact, excessive industrialization and rising greenhouse gasses eventually accentuate the phenomenon of global warming. Of the total world geographical area of 510.072 million sq. km, water comprises 361.132 million sq. km. and 148.940 million sq. km. of land, while forest cover accounts for 31% of the global land area.
India is known for its rich biodiversity and possesses vast forested regions. These forests, covering approximately 24% of the country’s geographical area, play a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance and mitigating the adverse impact of climate change. In India, there are 7, 13,789 square kilometres of forests. Since the most recent assessment (ISFR-2019), the country’s total area covered by trees and forests has grown by 2,261 sq km. From 19.53% in the 1980s to 21.71% in 2021, it rose. Between 2019 and 2021, India’s forest cover increased by 1,540 sq km. India today has 80.9 million hectares of total green space which is 24.62 % of its total land area. The state with the most forest cover was Madhya Pradesh, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
 India has witnessed the highest spike in deforestation in the past 3 decades, with an exponential rise recorded between 2015 and 2020, according to Utility Bidder, a United Kingdom-based comparison site for energy and utility costs. During these years, the country was ranked second only after Brazil, with average deforestation of 668,400 hectares (ha).Â
While India lost 384,000 ha of forests between 1990 and 2000, the figure rose to 668,400 ha between 2015 and 2020. With a difference of 284,400 ha in forestry loss between 1990 and 2020, India has seen the biggest increase in deforestation. What is equally concerned during this period are the rising incidences of forest fires. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, forest fires threaten 35.46 percent of the country’s forest cover. 2.81% are extremely vulnerable, 7.85% are very highly vulnerable, and 11.51% are highly vulnerable.
The massive industrialization, demand for urbanization, over-exploitation of resources and burgeoning population explosion have led not only to decline but also permanent loss of forest cover at an unprecedented level. Forests around the globe are cleared chiefly for agriculture, mining, developmental projects and logging. Deforestation is one of the most significant challenges faced by Indian forests while the state-wise condition of forests evinces a poor image. J&K has been facing forest fires, deforestation, and unsustainable urbanization affecting forest lands and developmental projects making the forested area ecosystems fragile.
 Status of Forests in J&K
Kashmir possesses a diverse range of forests owing to its varied topography, climate, and altitudes. The region’s agriculture, energy and tourism industries are directly impacted by Kashmiri’s evergreen coniferous forests and snow-capped peaks.Â
Jammu and Kashmir has five types of forests namely, (i)Â Sub-tropical Dry-Green Forests, (ii) Himalayan Moist Temperate Forests, (iii) Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests, (iv) Sub-tropical Pine Forests, and (v) Sub-Alpine and Alpine Forests. It has 42 forest types due to altitudinal and latitudinal variations. J&K has the distinction of having the highest growing stock of wood per unit area which is around 172.46 cubic meters per hectare. Apart from this the per hectare carbon stock of JK is 173.41 tons/hectare. This is the highest in India as per the Indian state of Forest Report 2021. As per ISFR report 2021, J&K has a forest area of around 48% of the total geographical area.
The forest cover of Jammu and Kashmir is 21,387 Sq. Km. It is categorized into 3 groups. First is Very Dense Forest – 4,155 Sq. Km (19.43%), second is Moderate Dense Forest – 8,116 Sq. Km (37.95%) and the third one which is the highest is Open Forest – 9,115 Sq.km (42.61%).
Following is the representational image of forest/tree cover in J&K in terms of percentage of total geographical area as per ISFR-2021:Â
Forest Survey of India (FSI) argues that the forest, meadows and tree cover of the Union Territory of J&K is around 54% of its geographical area which is generally higher than the forests and tree cover of 24.56% at the country level and above the national objective of 33%. In fact as per the National Forest Policy a union territory or a mountainous state should have 66% of its geographical area under tree and forest cover in order to ensure stability of the fragile ecosystems.
 The erstwhile state of J&K was the 6th largest State having 2, 22,236 sq .km of geographical area. In fact, in terms of District wise, Kargil had the smallest area of 46 sq. km. followed by Leh with 92 sq. km. In the rest of the districts, Doda had the largest area of 3,819 sq. km while Udhampur is the highest district in terms of percentage of 60.13 to its geographical area. The district of Budgam was the lowest in terms of both area of 312 sq. km. and percentage. What has become a common trend is the indiscriminate cutting of trees and rising incidences of wood smuggling from forests. Â
Growing deforestation, Illegal Logging, and Land Use Changes due to increased urbanization and agricultural expansion has encroached upon forested areas, leading to habitat fragmentation and a decline in forest cover. In fact due to rising global temperatures, climate change is wreaking havoc globally. Kashmir’s forests are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, which can affect the distribution of plant and animal species.Â
As per the data in 2010, J&K had 660kha of natural forest, which covered over 8.3% of its land area. However, in the year 2022, it lost 19 ha of natural forest, equivalent to 7.97 kt of CO2 emissions. Over a period of two decades i.e., from 2001 to 2022, J&K lost 946 ha of tree cover from fires. Most tree cover loss recorded due to fires was in 2004 with 240 ha lost to fires — 27% of all tree cover loss for that year. From the year 2001 to 2022, district Rajouri had the highest rate of tree cover loss due to fires with an average of 9 ha lost per year. Fires were responsible for 23% of tree cover loss in Jammu and Kashmir between 2001 and 2022.Â
 J&K State Forest Policy-2010 reveals that the effects of the degradation of forests are already quite visible in the form of drying up of perennial water sources at many locations, more severe soil erosion, increase in flash floods, silting up of reservoirs, loss of biodiversity and reduced forest productivity. The new Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act of 2023 has loosened the restrictions of the original Central Act of 1980 to make it easier to divert forest areas for significant development projects, establishing key linear projects of national importance, and building infrastructure related to security. Prior to the amendments in August 2019, J&K had its own Forest Conservation Act of 1987, which contained relatively tight guidelines to limit the use of forest land for purposes other than those of a forest. The Central Act of 1980 has repealed that law and taken its place. Â
Policy Recommendations for Preserving Jammu and Kashmir’s Forests
Safeguarding the forests of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is paramount for biodiversity preservation, climate resilience, and the well-being of local communities. Here are key policy recommendations:
Strengthen Enforcement and Customization:
Enforce existing forest conservation laws rigorously, imposing penalties for illegal activities.
Tailor regulations to address regional challenges effectively.
Promote Community-Based Management:
Encourage community participation in forest management to foster local engagement.
Provide incentives and training to promote sustainable forest practices within communities.
Protect Critical Habitats and Biodiversity:
Identify and safeguard critical habitats and biodiversity hotspots.
Implement targeted conservation programs for endangered flora and fauna.
Comprehensive Forest Fire Management:
Develop a robust strategy for forest fire prevention and control.
Invest in cutting-edge fire detection and suppression equipment and training.
Reforestation and Afforestation Initiatives:
Launch projects to restore degraded areas through reforestation and afforestation.
Prioritize the use of native species to maintain ecological balance.
Climate-Smart Forest Management:
Incorporate climate-resilient forest management practices.
Continuously monitor and assess the impact of climate change on forests and adapt as needed.
Sustainable Eco-Tourism Promotion:
Encourage sustainable eco-tourism to generate income for local communities.
Ensure that tourism activities do not harm the environment.
Public-Private Partnerships:
Foster collaborations between the public and private sectors for sustainable forest management and investment.
Disaster Response Plans:
Develop comprehensive plans to address natural disasters in forested areas, including floods, landslides, and avalanches.
Education and Awareness:
Launch awareness campaigns to educate communities about the importance of forest conservation and its benefits.
Integrate environmental education into schools and colleges.
Conclusion
Prioritizing sustained interaction and community involvement, especially with local communities engaged in forest management, should be the cornerstone of our efforts. These policy recommendations serve as a foundation for a holistic forest protection strategy tailored to the unique ecological and socio-economic factors of Jammu and Kashmir. The active involvement of local communities and stakeholders in policy planning and implementation is essential for long-term success.
References
https://india.mongabay.com/2018/05/is-the-worst-over-for-jammu-and-kashmirs-forests/?amp=1
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/editorial-page/guard-the-green-goldÂ
https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/over-50-forest-area-in-jk-ut-highly-vulnerable-to-fires-study/
https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/IND/14/?category=firesÂ
https://jkforest.gov.in/assets/pdf/publications/Handbill%20Final%202021-22.pdf
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