The Global Forest Watch, which tracks forest changes in near real-time using satellite data and other sources, said the country lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest (4.1 per cent) from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 per cent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.
The exemptions and dilution of existing provisions open up a range of forest land for exploitation. Adivasis and forest-dwelling tribes will be affected too.
PM Modi also said that, while maintaining a balance between present requirements and future vision, India is moving ahead with a clear roadmap for environment protection and climate change.
The suitable habitat for hijol to grow in the India-Bangladesh landscape may shrink by 50.5% because of rainfall and temperature changes, according to a study.