Assam lost nearly 3.6k sq km of tree cover since ’01: Global study

Guwahati: Assam has lost an estimated 3,600 sq km of tree cover since 2001, a figure equivalent to the combined loss across 19 states and one Union Territory over the same period, underscoring an alarming scale of deforestation in the state, Global Forest Watch (GFW) data revealed.

The data shows that while several states have recorded significant forest depletion, none come close to Assam’s scale of loss.

The cumulative decline across states such as Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra roughly matches Assam’s total, highlighting the disproportionate burden borne by the northeastern state.

GFW, launched in 1997 by the US-based non-profit World Resources Institute, is an open-source platform that monitors forests and climate worldwide in near real time.

Among other states, Karnataka (610 sq km) and Chhattisgarh (600 sq km) recorded the highest losses, followed by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (440 sq km each) and Tamil Nadu (350 sq km). However, even these figures fall well short of Assam’s loss.

“The sharp contrast places Assam at the centre of India’s deforestation concerns, raising serious questions about land-use changes, encroachment, infrastructure expansion and ecological pressures in the region,” said city-based conservationist H Lahkar.

He warned that such a large-scale loss in a biodiversity-rich state could have far-reaching consequences on wildlife habitats, climate resilience and flood patterns.

Lahkar added that the GFW data highlights the urgency of state-specific conservation strategies, with Assam requiring immediate and intensified intervention to halt further degradation.

According to the data, the hilly districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao accounted for 62% of the state’s total tree cover loss over the past 25 years. Karbi Anglong recorded the highest loss at 1,300 sq km, followed by Dima Hasao at 900 sq km.

State government has launched several initiatives to address the issue, including the creation of climate-resilient villages under the CM’s Climate Resilient Village Fellowship Programme.

Official data shows that Assam carried out afforestation across more than 163 sq km between 2010-11 and 2025-26 as part of its climate change mitigation efforts. The Assam Climate Change Management Society has also undertaken studies to assess the impact of climate change across various sectors in the state.