CCG raises concerns over Indian State of Forest Report 2023 in open letter to environment minister

By Jag Jivan

The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), a collective of former civil servants, has expressed serious concerns over the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 in an open letter to the Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change. The group has criticized the report's delayed release, flawed methodology, and misleading claims regarding the state of India's forests.

The ISFR, which is released biennially, was expected in January 2023 but was only published in December 2024—almost a year late. CCG claims the report paints an overly optimistic picture, suggesting a net increase in forest cover while disregarding actual deforestation trends.

The group highlighted serious methodological issues, stating that the ISFR wrongly includes orchards, plantations, and gardens as forests. Coconut, oil palm, and rubber plantations have been counted as forest cover. The reported increase of 1,445.81 sq km in total forest and tree cover appears inaccurate. Ground-truthing (verification on the ground) has been inadequate, and independent satellite data suggests significant forest loss.

The ISFR 2023 fails to comply with key Supreme Court rulings, including the 1996 Godavarman case, which mandates identifying all forests (irrespective of ownership), was not followed. The 2011 Lafarge case required digital mapping of all forests under the Forest Conservation Act, which the ISFR has not done.

Despite ISFR 2023’s claims, CCG points to data showing India lost 1.49 million hectares of trees between 2013 and 2023, making it the second-highest in global deforestation rankings. The report reveals that Northeastern states lost 3,132.27 sq km of forest cover over a decade, likely due to oil palm plantations. High-altitude forests (above 1,000 meters) saw a decline of over 1,500 sq km, increasing risks of landslides and floods. Additionally, 92,989 sq km of forests degraded between 2011 and 2021, despite large government investments in afforestation.

CCG warns that the Green Credit Program (GCP), promoted in ISFR 2023, is a flawed scheme that allows businesses to offset deforestation by funding questionable plantations. The scheme has been legally challenged, and CCG has previously written to the government highlighting its dangers.

CCG urges the government to ensure ISFR reports are based on scientific accuracy and transparent data. It calls for prioritizing forest and biodiversity conservation over development projects that primarily benefit corporate interests and stopping misleading claims that foster complacency while deforestation and ecological degradation accelerate.

Signed by 60 eminent former civil servants, including ex-Chief Secretaries, Ambassadors, and high-ranking officials, the letter calls for an immediate course correction in India’s forest conservation policies to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

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