Forest Details

According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (FRA 2020), representing almost 31% of the world’s surface area, forests were reported to encompass 4.06 billion hectares in 2020.

Forests offer more than just habitat for animals and means of subsistence for people. They also protect watersheds, stop soil erosion, and lessen the effects of climate change.

Given these advantages, the forest area around the world is still in decline.

Changes In Forests

• Loss of Forests due to deforestation which in turn is caused by various activities such as agriculture, urbanization, mineral exploration, etc. According to the State of the World’s Forests 2022  420 million hectares of forests have been lost between 1990 and 2020 from deforestation.
• Forest Degradation due to illegal logging.
• Declining floral and faunal biodiversity of forests due to human encroachments, climate change, etc.
• Conversion of forests into conservation reserves and protected areas to protect local flora and fauna.
• Invasive species of trees are on the rise.
• Increased incidence of Forest fires. For eg: Wildfires in the Amazon forests in Brazil and in Australia in the last two years, were caused by both climate change and human activities.
• Western Maharashtra, Southern Chhattisgarh, regions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, together with central Odisha, are “extremely prone” forest fire hotspots, according to the MoEFCC 2020–2021 annual report.

Effects Of Changes In Forests

• Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions as 15% of greenhouse gas emissions are due to deforestation and forest degradation.
• Rise in temperatures, changes in patterns of weather and water, and an increased frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change caused by such emissions.
• Soil Erosion increases due to shifting cultivation, removal of forests for agriculture, etc.
• Disruption of the Hydrological cycle because by assisting in maintaining equilibrium between water on the ground and water in the atmosphere, trees play a significant part in the local water cycle. However, this equilibrium can be upset by deforestation or environmental degradation, changing precipitation, and river flow.
• Destruction and Loss of biodiversity due to wildfires.
• Disruption of Livelihoods- Around the world, 1.25 billion people depend on forests for their homes, means of subsistence, and access to water, fuel, and food. And 750 million people live in the woods, which is almost one-fifth of all rural residents.
• Loss of culturally significant sacred groves.
• Increase in Infectious Diseases: Forests are related to 15% of 250 Emerging Infectious Diseases.