Guwahati, Dec 31: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has called on the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to take urgent steps to combat the alarming decline in forest cover and address environmental issues in Assam and the Northeast.
His appeal comes in the wake of findings from the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, which revealed a 79 sq. km reduction in forest cover in Assam between 2021 and 2023.
The ISFR 2023 report highlights a worrying loss of 79 sq. km of forest cover in Assam between 2021 and 2023. Gogoi emphasized the critical ecological role of Assam’s forests, which store an estimated 271.37 million tonnes of carbon and act as a significant carbon sink.
“The continued loss of forest cover exacerbates climate change impacts, threatens biodiversity, and destabilizes ecosystems crucial for local livelihoods,” Gogoi said in a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
“Assam’s forests, a crucial carbon sink with an estimated storage of 271.37 million tonnes of carbon, are shrinking due to deforestation, illegal logging, and encroachment. Cases such as the illegal diversion of Geleky forest land for infrastructure, including a commando camp, highlight unchecked development,” Gogoi said in the letter.
He said diminishing forest habitats force elephants and other wildlife into human settlements, escalating conflicts and casualties. The spread of species like Chromolaena odorata and Mikania micrantha destabilizes local ecosystems. Forest degradation jeopardizes resources vital for local livelihoods, increasing poverty risks and social unrest.
He mentioned that projects like the Bokakhat dumping site near protected forests pose significant risks to sensitive ecosystems.
Gogoi proposed a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges of strengthening forest protection in the state. He suggested for deployment of more forest guards and leveraging technologies like GPS tracking and drones for monitoring illegal activities, enhancing collaboration between forest protection forces, police, and revenue departments.
Gogoi also suggested fostering local involvement through participatory forest management models and incorporating indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices to conserve resources.
He urged the restoration of degraded forests using native species and the adoption of scientific methods for sustainability to ensure infrastructure projects are designed with minimal ecological impact.
He also urged for implementation of thoughtful land-use policies to mitigate environmental degradation and investigate deforestation drivers and adapt conservation interventions based on evolving challenges.
Gogoi stressed that initiatives like Amrit Brikshya Jan Andolan and Assam Green Mission require comprehensive evaluations to identify gaps and enhance their effectiveness in protecting Assam’s forests.
“Given the urgency of these environmental issues, immediate and prioritized action is needed. Addressing illegal land diversions and unsustainable development activities is critical to safeguarding Assam’s ecosystems, mitigating climate change, and ensuring the well-being of local communities,” Gogoi added.
