Madhya Pradesh Leads India In Forest Diversion

Madhya Pradesh has handed over 38,552.61 hectares of forest land for non-forestry development from 2014-15 to 2023-24, the highest in India.

According to data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Madhya Pradesh accounts for 22.23% of the national total of 173,396.87 hectares approved for forest diversion.

Odisha and Telangana follow with 24,458.89 hectares and 11,422.47 hectares, respectively. The figure represents statutory approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

Approval does not mean immediate tree-felling, as large projects are often developed in phases, creating a gap between approved and actually cleared forest land.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has identified the Kanha-Pench and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay corridors as vital for tigers, leopards, dholes, and gaurs moving between protected reserves.

Roads, railways, and other linear projects through these corridors can affect areas beyond the forest directly taken for construction. Mining can permanently alter the landscape.

In Madhya Pradesh, mining and mineral extraction account for approximately 38% of forest diversion, followed by irrigation, dams, and canals at 28%, and roads and highways at 18%.

Compensatory Afforestation is meant to replace diverted forest by planting trees elsewhere. However, a new plantation cannot quickly replace an old forest, its wildlife, or its role in the local ecosystem.

The pressure on Madhya Pradesh's forests is evident, with remote-sensing studies showing stone quarrying expansion near Indore.

Official records also show environmental clearances for stone mining in the area as recently as May 2024.

The state's forest diversion has significant implications for the environment and wildlife conservation.

Madhya Pradesh's high rate of forest diversion is a concern for conservation efforts and highlights the need for sustainable development practices.