Agartala: The Tripura government has initiated steps to assess the state’s forest cover and address issues arising from the mismanagement of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, following concerns over significant green cover loss in recent years.
The Forest Survey of India (FSI) report from December 2023 revealed that Tripura’s forest cover had decreased by 95.31 sq km over two years, dropping from 7,680.08 sq km in 2021 to 7,584.77 sq km in 2023.
While the report attributes the loss to several factors, Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma emphasised the need for a ground-level survey to verify the findings.
“A reduction in forest cover is a serious concern. I have directed the department to conduct a detailed ground-level assessment and submit a report. Appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for the decline,” Debbarma said.
The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Recognition of Forest Rights Act, 2006.
He pointed out that forest dwellers who were granted land rights often conducted demarcations on their own, leading to unregulated land use.
“There was no systematic demarcation or fencing during the land distribution process. We aim to streamline the implementation of the Act in compliance with its legislative intent,” he added.
The state plans to launch awareness programs to educate forest dwellers about sustainable ways to earn a livelihood while preserving forest ecosystems. “We will encourage large-scale bamboo plantations, which are both environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial due to the high demand for bamboo-based products,” Debbarma stated.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest S.K. Samal attributed the reduction in forest cover to various factors, including the replacement of native trees with rubber plantations under development schemes. Forestland diversion for the rehabilitation of Bru families, who migrated from Mizoram due to ethnic strife, has also impacted green cover. Over 6,900 Bru families have been resettled in Tripura since a 2020 agreement.
Additionally, traditional shifting cultivation in hilly tribal areas continues to pose challenges.
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“Shifting cultivation results in high soil erosion and disrupts the ecological balance despite efforts to curb the practice,” Samal explained.
The Tripura Forest Development Corporation Ltd has also been clearing old rubber plantations to make way for new ones, contributing to temporary forest cover loss.
In response to the declining green cover, the forest department has launched a major afforestation initiative. “Our goal is to plant saplings across 10,000 hectares annually. Alongside forest areas, we are focusing on roadside and riverbank plantations to boost green cover,” Samal said.
