Reviving the Green Glory: Tripura Spearheads Efforts to Reclaim and Revive Forest Cover After 2006 Act Fiascos

Tripura’s Forest Cover Plunges by 95.31 sq km, Government Takes Action

In an effort to address the alarming decline in Tripura’s forest cover, the state government has launched a probe into the issue, attributing the significant loss to a range of factors, including the mismanagement of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, the state’s forest cover shrank by 95.31 square kilometers over the past two years, dropping from 7,680.08 square kilometers in 2021 to 7,584.77 square kilometers in 2023.

Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma has emphasized the need for a ground-level survey to verify the findings and expects a detailed report from the department. He expressed concern over the reduction in forest cover, stating, “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 also criticized the haphazard implementation of the FRA, citing the lack of systematic demarcation and fencing during the land distribution process, which has led to unregulated land use.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, S.K. Samal, attributed the decline in forest cover to a range of factors, including the replacement of native trees with rubber plantations, forestland diversion for the rehabilitation of Bru families, and traditional shifting cultivation in hilly tribal areas. “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 has also been undertaking the clearance of old rubber plantations to make way for new ones, contributing to temporary forest cover loss.

To address the alarmingly low forest cover, the Tripura government has launched a major afforestation initiative, which includes planting saplings across 10,000 hectares annually. Samal emphasized, “Our goal is to plant saplings across 10,000 hectares annually. We are also focusing on roadside and riverbank plantations to boost green cover.” Additionally, the government plans to educate forest dwellers about sustainable livelihood options, such as large-scale bamboo plantations, which are both environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial due to the high demand for bamboo-based products.

Original Source: https://nenews.in/tripura/tripura-to-address-forest-cover-decline-mismanagement-of-2006-act/22314/
Category : Tripura,Forest Act,Initiative,land rights,Tripura government
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Publish Date: 2025-03-25 16:19:00