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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on April 18, 2025

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Rapid development, shrinking green cover

For Preliminary Examination:  Current events of national and international Significance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Environment & Ecology

Context:

The Supreme Court has said it “will go out of the way to protect the environment” as it questioned the Telangana government for justifying the large-scale felling of trees across 100 acres of land abutting the University of Hyderabad.

Read about:

Indian State Forest Report

Unclassed Forest

Key takeaways:

Forest Cover in India

• Forests in India are more than just clusters of trees—they form the backbone of livelihoods for millions and hold immense ecological, economic, and cultural importance.
• They are key indicators of environmental health, which is why India has long aspired to maintain forest cover over 33% of its total land area.
• However, as per the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, the current forest and tree cover stands at approximately 8,27,357 sq. km—about 24% of the nation's geographical area.
• Although there has been a marginal rise in overall greenery compared to previous reports, the findings point to shrinking eco-sensitive zones, mangroves, and natural forests.
• A troubling trend is the replacement of biodiverse natural forests with single-species plantations, which threatens both ecological resilience and biodiversity. The credibility of the ISFR has also been questioned due to its inclusion of plantations like tea, coffee, and coconut under the definition of forests.

Drivers of Deforestation

• The degradation of forests is closely linked with rapid industrialisation and expanding urban areas. Between 2014–15 and 2023–24, about 1.73 lakh hectares of forests were lost to developmental activities, according to the Union Ministry of Environment.
• In states rich in minerals—such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh—mining activities have been the primary cause of deforestation, with over 1 lakh hectares of land diverted for nearly 500 mining projects up to 2018.
• In the northeastern hills, factors like shifting cultivation (Jhum), agricultural expansion, and large-scale logging have severely reduced forest cover, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland between 2021 and 2023.
• Additionally, the rising frequency of forest fires—exacerbated by human actions and extended dry periods—is another major concern. Climate change further fuels these fires by creating hotter, drier conditions.
• Between November 2023 and June 2024, over 2 lakh incidents of forest fires were recorded by the Forest Survey of India, underlining the urgent need for robust forest protection laws.

Legal Mechanisms for Forest Protection

• India’s