Lok Sabha Question No. 2926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Deterioration of Forest
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2926

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Deteriorating of Forest

## 2926.  SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  climate  change  brings  about  shift  in  natural vegetation there by deteriorating the forest and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government had conducted any study in this regard and if so, the outcome thereof along with the action taken to prevent the forest climate change;
- (c) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that rain - reduction in monsoon and unseasonal rains have disturbed the crop cycle;
- (d) if so, the programme implemented by the Government to avoid loss due to the climate change;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted study regarding the shrinking of water supply in various parts of the country due to climate change; and
- (f) if  so,  the  action  taken  for  water  conservation  and  avoid  such  loss  due  to  climate change?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (f) The  Government  of  India  has  published  a  reported  titled  'Climate  Change  and India: A 4X4 Assessment - A Sectoral and Regional Analysis for 2030s (Report 4X4 Assessment)', which provides an assessment of impact of climate change on four  key  sectors  of  the  Indian  economy,  namely  Agriculture,  Water,  Natural Ecosystems & Biodiversity and Health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely the Himalayan Region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area and the NorthEast Region for 2030.

As per Report 4X4 Assessment, the forest vegetation type of the four eco-sensitive regions  are  vulnerable  to  projected  climate  change  in  the  short  term,  that  is,  in 2030s.  There are projections for increase in Net Primary Productivity in Western Ghats,  North  eastern  region,  Himalayan  region,  and  the  Coastal  region  by  2030 with respect to 1970s.

Further as per latest assessment of forest cover published in 'India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2017', the total forest and tree cover of the country is 8,02,088 sq km  which is 24.39 % of the geographical area of the country. The Forest and Tree cover shows an increase of 8,021 sq km over the ISFR 2015(updated). Hence there is a net increase in the forest cover of the country.

However as per study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)  through  GB  Pant  Institute  of  Himalayan  Environment  and  Development, Almora on 'Forest Resources and Biodiversity', the vegetation shifting to higher altitudes have been noticed. Studies showed that some of species have also been shifting in the northern or higher altitudes. Abies densa showed greater recruitment on upper distribution limit (>3900 m) in the Eastern Himalaya and Betula utilis in the western Himalaya indicating shift of species towards higher altitude.

The Report 4X4 Assessment also projects gain in yields of irrigated rice in all the regions;  reduced  yields  in  all  the  regions  for  Maize  and  sorghum;  increase  in coconut  productivity  in  the  western  coast  and  reduction  in  the  eastern  coastal region; and  reduction in apple production in the Himalayan region by 2030 with respect to 1970s.

In  addition,  it  is  noticed  that  crop  cycle  gets  disturbed  during  onset  of  monsoon season and dry spells during the break monsoon situation. The onset of monsoon varies  temporal  as  well  as  spatial.  This  variation  in  onset  seriously  affects  the sowing of different major khariff crops across the country and break in monsoon rains  are  common  for  one  week  to  ten  days.  But  the  prolonged  break  (10  to  55 days)  during  the  critical  period  of  kharif  crop  either  reduce  the  crop  yields  or causes complete crop failures.

Further as per Report 4X4 Assessment, water yield is projected to increase in the Himalayan region in 2030s with respect of 1970s. However, water yields are likely to be variable across the North Eastern region, Western Ghats, and Coastal region with respect of 1970s. In some places in these regions, it is projected to increase and in some places it is projected to decrease.

In  order  to  address  the  issues  of  climate  change,  Government  of  India  is implementing  the  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC)  which includes  eight  national  missions  being  implemented  by  various  Ministries  in specific  areas  of  Sustaining  the  Himalayan  Ecosystem,  Solar  Energy,  Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture  and  Strategic  knowledge  for  Climate  Change.  Thirty  two  States  and Union  Territories  have  prepared  their  State  Action  Plans  on  Climate  Change (SAPCC) consistent with objectives of NAPCC to address state specific concerns. The Government is also implementing the scheme i.e. National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change to support adaptation efforts of States and Union Territories.