Disappearance of 6 Million Trees in India

Source-This post on Disappearance of 6 Million Trees in India has been created based on the article “Nearly 6 million trees disappeared from farmlands in three years, says satellite mapping study” published in “The Hindu” on 17 May 2024.

Why in the news?

According to analysis by University of Copenhagen researchers using satellite imagery, India may have lost around 5.8 million fully grown trees in agricultural lands between 2019-2022.

What are the findings of the study?

1) During 2018–2022, it was observed that 11% of the large trees identified in 2010–2011 were no longer visible. This data may indicate their disappearance. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t indicate a general reduction in trees outside of forests because research was specifically concentrated on large individual trees.

2) Major losses (up to 50%) were noticed in certain areas of Telangana, Maharashtra, and eastern Madhya Pradesh. In certain hotspot regions, as many as 22 big trees disappeared per square kilometre.

3)The majority of losses have probably happened between 2018 and 2020.

What was the methodology by Copenhagen researchers?

1) The analysis tracked individual large trees (not overall tree cover) in farmlands using high-resolution satellite imagery and machine learning.

2) The researchers combined satellite imagery from RapidEye and PlanetScope repositories. These satellites have resolutions of three to five meters, allowing them to detect individual trees.

3) In contrast, the FSI relies on data from the Sentinel satellite, which has a coarser resolution of 10 meters, enabling the detection of blocks of trees rather than individual ones.

What are the reasons for the loss of large trees in Indian farmlands?

1) Conversion of farmland with trees to paddy cultivation.

2) Established agroforestry systems are being replaced by paddy expansion that is supported   by new water sources.

3) Large trees are removed. Trees are now cultivated in separate plantations that have lower ecological value.

4) Some loss is also a natural part of agroforestry management cycles.

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