Guwahati: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to take immediate measures to address the significant decline in forest cover within Assam and the Northeastern region, as highlighted by the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.
The ISFR 2023 reported an 83.92 sq. km reduction in Assam’s forest cover.
Gogoi highlighted the ecological significance of these forests, which store 271.37 million tonnes of carbon, acting as a crucial carbon sink.
In a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Gogoi wrote, “The continued loss of forest cover exacerbates climate change, threatens biodiversity, and destabilizes ecosystems crucial for local livelihoods.”
He attributed the forest loss to deforestation, illegal logging, and encroachment.
He also highlighted the diversion of Geleky forest land for infrastructure projects, including a commando camp, as a specific instance of development that disregards environmental concerns.
The MP underscored the grave consequences of forest degradation, such as increased human-wildlife conflict, the disruption of ecosystems by invasive species, and the destruction of local livelihoods, which exacerbate poverty and social instability.
He also drew attention to the risks posed by projects like the Bokakhat dumping site situated near protected forests.
Gogoi proposed a comprehensive strategy to address these pressing challenges.
He proposed the deployment of increased forest guard personnel equipped with advanced technologies such as GPS tracking and drones to effectively monitor illegal activities within forest areas.
Besides, he emphasized the need for enhanced inter-agency collaboration between forest protection forces, law enforcement agencies, and revenue departments to ensure coordinated and effective enforcement of forest laws.
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Finally, he stressed the importance of fostering active local participation in forest management through community-based initiatives, empowering local communities to play a crucial role in the conservation and sustainable utilization of forest resources.
