Shillong: According to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR), Meghalaya has experienced a significant loss of over 84 square kilometers of forest cover between 2021 and 2023.
This marks a concerning trend for the state’s environmental health.
The report, released by Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, reveals that, except for Sikkim, which reported a modest increase of 2 square kilometers, all other northeastern states saw a reduction in forested areas.
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The northeast region, which constitutes 7.98 percent of India’s land area, is home to 21.08 percent of the country’s forest and tree cover.
While the report does not specify the exact causes of the forest cover loss in Meghalaya, state forest officials attribute the decline to human activities such as agricultural expansion, increased settlement, and infrastructure development.
The report also highlights the impact of ‘jhum cultivation’, or the slash-and-burn method of farming, as a significant contributor to deforestation in the region.
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This traditional practice, though vital to the local communities’ economy and culture, is considered ecologically destructive.
The decrease in Meghalaya’s forest cover is part of a broader trend across the northeast.
Nagaland has recorded the highest loss with 125.22 square kilometers, followed by Tripura at 100.22 square kilometers, Meghalaya at 84.07 square kilometers, and Assam at 83.92 square kilometers.
