Deforestation and Loss of Biodiversity in India: Challenges & Paths Forward

By Kalpana sahoo

Introduction 

Forests are not just trees. They are complex living systems that provide habitat for wildlife, regulate climate, protect soil and water, and support livelihoods of millions. In India, forests are woven into the fabric of culture, ecology and economy. But over recent decades, deforestation and habitat degradation have increasingly threatened this web of life — reducing biodiversity, undermining ecosystem services, and creating long-term social, economic, and environmental risks. 

This article examines the causes and consequences of deforestation and biodiversity loss in India, and then explores how communities, youth, and everyday citizens can help respond — offering practical actions, inspirations, and policy-directions for building a greener and fairer future. 

 

The Scale and Causes of the Problem 

Extent of Forest Loss & Habitat Degradation 

• India has roughly 63.73 million hectares of legally defined forest cover. Tropical forests make up around 86% of this area. FAOHome 

• However, much of this is degraded forest rather than pristine natural habitat. An FAO case study noted that about 41% of India’s forest cover is degraded. FAOHome 

• Between 1990 and 2020, India lost around 668,400 hectares of forest cover (depending on the study), with habitat fragmentation, agricultural expansion, urbanization, and conversion of forest lands being major drivers. www4.unfccc.int+3India Today+3FAOHome+3 

Key Drivers 

1. Urban expansion & land-use change
   Rapid growth of towns and cities (especially in sensitive regions like the Western Himalayas) is expanding into forested land. In Nainital, Uttarakhand, for instance, natural forest cover declined by about 11% between 1991-2023. Mongabay-India 

2. Agricultural expansion
   Forests are cleared to create farmland, often with monocultures, and pressure for grazing and fuelwood extraction also degrade forest ecosystems. FAOHome+2Vasant's Ramblings+2 

3. Degradation rather than total deforestation
   Even forests that remain are often degraded: selective logging, overgrazing, invasive species, poor regeneration of native trees, and low growing stock reduce forest health and biodiversity. FAOHome 

4. Policy & enforcement gaps
   While there are laws and regulations (e.g. Forest Conservation Act, compensatory afforestation schemes), implementation is patchy. There is often a mismatch between forest lost versus forest planted (in terms of biodiversity, age, ecological function). www4.unfccc.int+1 

5. Cultural / socioeconomic pressures
   Forest communities depend on non-timber forest products, medicinal plants, fuelwood. The loss of forest means loss of livelihood, health, cultural practices. Climate change and migration also increase pressures. Mongabay-India+1 

 

Consequences: Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services & Social Well-being 

• Species loss & ecosystem imbalance: As habitats shrink or fragment, many plant, animal, insect, and fungal species decline or disappear. Endemic species (e.g. in Western Ghats, North East and Himalayas) are especially vulnerable. 

• Reduced ecosystem services: Forests play key roles in carbon sequestration, water regulation (groundwater recharge, rainfall patterns), soil stability, flood control. When forests degrade, these services falter. For example, in Uttarakhand, forest loss has led to diminished groundwater recharge (~17%) and loss of natural springs. Mongabay-India 

• Human-wildlife conflict: As forests shrink, wildlife enters human habitats searching for food/water, causing danger to both animals and people. Studies in the Lakhimpur Kheri region show such conflicts rising. Down To Earth 

• Cultural loss & health risks: Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) — e.g. medicinal plant uses, rituals, conservation practices — is under threat. Communities that depended on this knowledge suffer loss of identity, health (when medicinal plants disappear), and resilience. Mongabay-India 

• Climate impacts and social vulnerability: Forest loss contributes to higher local temperatures, erratic rainfall, more extreme weather events. For poor and forest-dependent communities, these changes reduce food security, increase poverty, and threaten health. Down To Earth+1 

 

Responses: What Can Communities, Youth & Everyday Citizens Do 

Building resilience and reversing or mitigating these trends requires action at multiple levels. Here are ways different actors can respond, with examples and suggestions. 

Role of Local Communities & Indigenous Peoples 

1. Traditional Knowledge & Community Management
   Local forest-dwelling communities often have deep understanding of native species, seasonal cycles, and sustainable harvesting. Supporting their role in forest governance can help protect biodiversity. Mongabay-India+1 

2. Participatory Restoration Projects
   Forest restoration (afforestation, rewilding) involving the community ensures local ownership, maintenance, and ecological appropriateness. For instance, Aadivasi Welfare Foundation (AWF) has carried out afforestation in tribal areas across Jharkhand, Odisha, and other states, restoring degraded landscapes while providing local livelihoods. Aadivasi Welfare Foundation 

3. Mangrove Management & Coastal Ecosystems
   Community based mangrove management models show that locals, when given authority and responsibility, can rehabilitate mangrove forests, protecting biodiversity and providing protection against storms/coastal erosion. Wikipedia 

4. Grassroots Movements & Campaigns
   Movements like Chipko (1970s) showed the power of local communities — especially women — in protecting trees through non‐violent protest. Wikipedia
   More recently, campaigns like Save Mollem bring together citizens, scientists and youth to oppose forest-divesting projects in Meghalaya/Karnataka. Wikipedia 

Role of Youth 

1. Education & Capacity Building
   Youth can engage in certificate courses, workshops, fellowships on biodiversity, conservation, agroforestry, etc. For example, Wildroots India’s Youth Climate & Conservation Fellowship Programme (YCCFP) brings students into national parks for hands-on learning. WildRoots India 

2. Leadership in Innovation & Sustainable Practices
   Youth initiatives like Pragati in Bihar train young people in analog forestry, mixed farming, sustainable land management. Feminism in India
   Use of technology (satellite imagery, GIS, apps) to monitor forest cover, detect illegal logging, and engage citizens. 

3. Advocacy, Campaigns, Civic Action
   Organize awareness campaigns, tree planting drives, social media advocacy to keep the issue in public view. NGO platforms and youth networks like Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) help in amplifying voices. Wikipedia+1 

4. Lifestyle Choices
   Reducing consumption of materials that drive deforestation (certain woods, illegal timber, unsustainable palm oil or paper products), supporting forest-friendly products, reducing waste. 

Role of Everyday Citizens 

1. Tree Planting & Caring for Green Spaces
   Participating in local plantation drives (e.g. Van Mahotsav), caring for native trees in your neighbourhood, school, or community. Replacements must favour native species for biodiversity benefits. The Times of India 

2. Supporting Organizations & Policies
   Back local NGOs, support legal protections for forests, demand better enforcement of forest conservation policies. Sign petitions, vote for green leadership, pressure authorities to protect sensitive ecosystems. 

3. Consumer Choices & Awareness
   Choose sustainable wood products, avoid products linked to deforestation. Reduce demand for single-use papers, support certified timber, opt for recycled materials. 

4. Citizen Science & Monitoring
   Use tools like mobile apps, satellite maps, or local observation to report illegal logging, encroachment, forest fires. Inform local forest departments or NGOs. 

 

Inspiriting Examples 

• Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, Kerala: A 32-hectare sanctuary preserving over 2,000 native plant species, managed largely by local and Indigenous women, many with no formal scientific training. They use rainforest restoration, minimal intervention, letting nature regenerate where possible. The Guardian 

• Aadivasi Welfare Foundation (AWF) plantation & restoration work: tens of lakhs of saplings planted in key areas, including efforts to restore wildlife corridors and degraded landscapes. Aadivasi Welfare Foundation 

• Mattewara Forest, Ludhiana – Van Mahotsav: Over 3,000 native tree saplings planted; community workshops, nature walks and eco-belts planned and implemented. The Times of India 

 

Policy & Institutional Supports Needed 

To scale up community, youth and citizen efforts, certain policy and institutional frameworks are essential: 

1. Stronger laws and enforcement
   Tighten regulations on land conversion, enforce sustainable forestry practices, ensure compensatory afforestation accounts for ecological quality (not just number of trees planted). 

2. Funding & Incentives
   Grants or payments for ecosystem services to forest communities; subsidy support for agroforestry, medicinal plant cultivation, eco-tourism; support for youth fellowships. 

3. Integration of Traditional Knowledge
   Recognize, document, and integrate traditional ecological knowledge in conservation planning. This supports biodiversity and cultural identity. 

4. Transparent Monitoring & Data Systems
   Use remote sensing, GIS, citizen science to transparently track forest cover loss, species decline, land-use change. Make data public, allow civil society access. 

5. Education & Awareness in School Curricula
   Embed biodiversity, ecology, sustainable land management in schools; field trips, environmental clubs, local ecosystem studies. 

Towards a Greener, Fairer Future: A Vision 

• If communities, youth, and citizens act in concert with supportive policy, the following future is possible: 

• Forests no longer being cleared at alarming rates in biodiversity hotspots; many degraded lands restored to functioning ecosystems. 

• Indigenous and tribal communities are recognized as stewards, with their rights, knowledge, and livelihoods respected. 

• Youth are not passive observers but active leaders in conservation innovation, social entrepreneurship, eco-restoration. 

• Citizens consume more responsibly, value biodiversity, support green governance. 

• Ecosystem services — clean water, stable climate, soil health — are preserved, improving well-being especially for vulnerable populations. 

Legal and Constitutional Framework Protecting Forests and Biodiversity 

India is among the few countries where environmental protection is both a constitutional duty and a legal mandate. Several constitutional provisions, laws, and judicial decisions provide a strong legal foundation for forest and biodiversity conservation. 

1. Constitutional Provisions 

• Article 48A (Directive Principles of State Policy):
  Directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife. 

• Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duties):
  Makes it the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife. 

• Article 21 (Right to Life):
  Through judicial interpretation, the Supreme Court has expanded the right to life to include the right to a clean and healthy environment, making environmental protection a fundamental right. 

 

2. Key Environmental and Forest Laws 

🌲 The Indian Forest Act, 1927 

• Provides legal definitions of forests and regulates forest produce and timber trade. 

• Recognized as outdated but foundational to forest governance. 

🌳 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 

• Prohibits diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes without Central Government approval. 

• Strengthened post the T.N. Godavarman Case (1996) to prevent arbitrary deforestation.

🐅 The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 

• Establishes protected areas such as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves. 

• Provides for the protection of endangered species and penalties for poaching and illegal trade. 

🌼 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 

• Implements the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 

• Aims at conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit sharing of biological resources. 

• Establishes National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Boards, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at local levels. 

⚖️ The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 

• Enacted post-Bhopal Gas Tragedy. 

• Empowers the Central Government to regulate pollution, environmental impact assessments, and conservation policies. 

🌍 The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 

• Recognizes the traditional rights of forest-dwelling tribal and other communities over land and forest resources. 

• Promotes participatory governance in forest protection and biodiversity management. 

 

3. Judicial Landmark Cases and Doctrines 

a. T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India (1996–Present) 

• Redefined “forest” and banned non-forest activities without government approval. 

• Led to the creation of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to monitor compliance. 

• A continuous mandamus case — still active, forming the backbone of forest jurisprudence. 

b. M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997) 

• Applied the Public Trust Doctrine — holding that natural resources are held by the State in trust for public use and cannot be misused for private profit. 

c. Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India (1996) 

• Introduced the Polluter Pays Principle, holding polluters liable for environmental restoration. 

d. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India (1996) 

• Established the Precautionary Principle and Sustainable Development as essential components of Indian law. 

e. Centre for Environmental Law, WWF v. Union of India (2013) 

• Reinforced the protection of wildlife corridors and critical habitats. 

Together, these cases have ensured that environmental protection is not merely policy but a legally enforceable right rooted in justice and sustainability. 

🌏 Government and Judicial Mechanisms for Implementation 

1. National Green Tribunal (NGT) – Established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to handle environmental cases efficiently. It plays a crucial role in addressing deforestation and illegal mining. 

Example: Save Mon Region Federation v. Union of India (2013) where the NGT stayed a hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh due to forest clearance violations. 

2. Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) – Ensures afforestation activities when forest land is diverted. 

3. National Forest Policy (1988 & Draft 2018) – Emphasizes ecological balance, participatory forest management, and increasing green cover to 33%. 

4. Green India Mission (2014) – Aims to restore 5 million hectares of degraded land and improve ecosystem services. 

 

 

Conclusion 

Deforestation and biodiversity loss are among the most pressing challenges facing India today. Their impacts are not only environmental but deeply social: affecting livelihoods, health, identity, and future security. However, while the scale of the problem is large, it is not insurmountable. Communities, youth, and everyday citizens have tools, agency, and creativity to make real change. 

By combining grassroots action (planting, monitoring, conserving), lifestyle shifts, advocacy, and respect for traditional knowledge — supported by stronger laws and institutional frameworks — India can build a future that is not only greener, but also fairer and more resilient. The health of our forests is inextricably tied to the health of our society: protecting one protects the other. 

 

References 

1. Meenakshi Joshi & Preet Pal Singh, Tropical Deforestation and Forest Degradation: A Case Study from India (FAO). FAOHome 

2. India’s biodiversity under threat — deforestation stats & habitat fragmentation. India Today 

3. Urban expansion driving forest loss in Himalayas / Western Ghats. Mongabay-India 

4. Lakhimpur Kheri forests & human-wildlife conflict consequences. Down To Earth 

5. Traditional knowledge decline among Mahadev Koli and others. Mongabay-India 

6. Youth programmes (Wildroots, IYCN etc.) and youth roles. Feminism in India+3WildRoots India+3Wikipedia+3 

7. Community restoration / AWF’s afforestation work. Aadivasi Welfare Foundation 

8. Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary example. The Guardian 

Mattewara forest Van Mahotsav drive. The Times of India