GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 332
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Deforestation by Invasive Species
332. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether a large area of forest lands were perished due to invasive species;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026 Deforestation by Invasive Species
332. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether a large area of forest lands were perished due to invasive species;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware that the large-scale spread of invasive species is causing food shortages for wild animals in the forest lands, leading wildlife to encroach upon human habitats; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps to ensure the availability of enough water and food to wildlife in the forests to avoid such encroachments and wildlife attacks? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) As per the India State of Forest Report, 2023 published by the Forest Survey of India, invasive species show very dense occurrence in 2.51% of the Recorded Forest Area (RFA), moderate to dense occurrence in 33.59% and scanty occurrence in 18.92%, while 23.61% of the RDA has been reported to be free from invasive species. The data of invasive species was not available in ISFR 2013.
(c) & (d) The Ministry is aware that invasive species may influence forest ecosystems and wildlife habitat conditions. The important steps taken by the Ministry to control and eradicate the invasive
species are follows: i. In accordance with provisions contained under Section 33 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Ministry has issued guidelines for the process of management planning for Protected Areas and other landscape elements. These guidelines also envisage incorporating prescriptions for eradication of invasive alien species in management plans of protected areas.
ii. The Ministry provides financial assistance to States/UTs under its Centrally Sponsored Schemes – ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ and ‘Project Tiger and Elephant’ for the conservation and management of wildlife and its habitat, including control of the invasive alien species.
iii. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been amended in 2022 to empower the Central Government to regulate or prohibit the import, trade, possession or proliferation of invasive alien species, which pose a threat to the wild life or its habitat in India.