India’s Forest Connectivity Weakens: Study Finds 18x More Loss Than Gain (2015–2019)

Last Updated Jul - 31 - 2025, 03:35 PM | Source : Fela News

A first-of-its-kind study reveals India lost 18 sq. km of forest for every 1 sq. km gained between 2015 and 2019. Most gains occurred in ecologically weak islet

India’s Forest Connectivity Weakens

A detailed study analyzing forest connectivity across Indian states between 2015 and 2019 has revealed a troubling trend: for every 1 sq. km of forest gained, India lost 18 sq. km. The total gross forest loss was around 1,033 sq. km, while gains were limited to just 56 sq. km. Two states were responsible for half the total loss, and four accounted for half of the gains. Although some states showed both losses and gains, none recorded a net increase in forest cover.

More concerning is the nature of this change. Forest losses predominantly occurred in ecologically crucial areas — core zones and connecting corridors (bridges). In contrast, gains were largely in isolated patches called “islets,” which hold minimal ecological value due to their disconnected nature. Nearly half of all newly added forest cover comprised islets, while just 6% contributed to core forests. Islets lack connectivity and therefore offer little support for species movement or gene flow, significantly limiting biodiversity conservation.

Conducted by researchers from SASTRA University and IIT Bombay, the study — published in *Environmental Monitoring and Assessment* — is unique for assessing forest connectivity, a metric absent from Forest Survey of India (FSI) reports, which mainly focus on net changes.

The researchers emphasize that understanding structural connectivity is vital for assessing ecological health. Forests were classified into seven connectivity types, from cores (most resilient) to islets (least resilient). The study found that islets experienced a much higher rate of deforestation — 0.72% compared to just 0.035% for core areas. Although forest cores lost 204 sq. km and islets 230 sq. km, the latter occurred in a much smaller base area, showing a conversion rate nearly 20 times higher.

The findings suggest afforestation efforts should prioritize forest cores and avoid focusing on islets unless they can be connected to larger forest systems. National forest cover decreased marginally from 24.13% in 2015 to 24.10% in 2019. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Telangana showed the highest rates of core forest loss, with Tamil Nadu’s rate 16 times the national average — indicating an urgent need for focused interventions in these regions.

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India’s Forest Connectivity Weakens: Study Finds 18x More Loss Than Gain (2015–2019)

India’s Forest Connectivity Weakens: Study Finds 18x More Loss Than Gain (2015–2019)

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