Parliament Question: Effects of climate change due to deforestation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4409 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026 Effects of climate change due to deforestation

4409. SMT. PHULO DEVI NETAM:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to

state:

(a) whether Government has conducted any study in recent times on the rate of deforestation in the country especially in Chhattisgarh and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether Government has conducted any study to monitor the effect of climate change on traditional forest dwellers and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(c) the details of measures taken by Government to balance economic growth with the climate goals, especially given its dependence on coal and the needs of its growing population? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) The Protection and management of forest are primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forest resources of the country which include, the Indian Forest Act 1927, Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980, and the State Forest Acts, Tree Preservation Acts and Rules, etc. The State Governments /UT Administrations take appropriate actions to protect forest and tree resources and address deforestation under the provisions made under these Acts/ Rules.

Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, carries out the assessment of forest and tree cover of the country biennially and the findings are published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR). The forest cover assessment is a wall-to-wall mapping exercise based on remote sensing supported by intensive ground verification and field data from the National Forest Inventory.

As per ISFR 2023, the forest and tree cover of the country is 8,27,356.95 square kilometre which is 25.17% of the geographical area of the country. As per latest ISFR 2023, the total forest and tree cover of the country has increased by 1,445.81 square kilometre as compared to the last assessment of ISFR 2021. As per ISFR 2023, the forest cover of Chhattisgarh is 55,811.75 square kilometre, which constitutes about 41.28% of its geographical area. Further, the State has recorded a net increase of about 684 square kilometre in forest and tree cover as compared to ISFR 2021.

(b) The Government of India has developed the National Action Plan on Climate Change

(NAPCC), which comprises Missions in specific areas. Six out of the nine Missions underNAPCC focus on adaptation in water, habitat, agriculture, the Himalayan ecosystem, human health, and strategic knowledge of climate change. All these Missions focus on strategies to combat the adverse impacts of climate change, and, are institutionalized and implemented by the respective Nodal Ministries/ Departments. Further, thirty-four States and UTs have prepared their respective State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs). The SAPCCs are designed to be context specific, and inter-alia, provide adaptation strategies considering each State's different ecological, social, and economic conditions.

(c) The Government of India is balancing economic growth with the goals conveyed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement through careful consideration of national circumstances and priorities for sustainable development.

The objective is, inter alia, to ensure energy security, reduce vulnerability to climate impacts by enhancing ability to adapt, and progressively reduce the emissions intensity of GDP. Steps have been taken towards improving energy efficiency and promoting the deployment of clean energy and cleaner technologies. The country has already achieved about 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources, ahead of the target committed in its updated NDC. Initiatives such as the National Green Hydrogen Mission, expansion of solar, wind and nuclear power, along with other sectoral efforts for low-carbon development, reflect the Government's strategy of pursuing high economic growth while transitioning towards a low- carbon, climate-resilient development pathway.

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