Nagaland Records Nation's Highest Forest Decline, Losing 795 Sq km in Decade
Nagaland has recorded the highest rate of forest decline in India, losing 795 square kilometers of forest cover between 2013 and 2023—approximately 5 percent of the state's total geographical area. The breaking report, filed by Nagaland Post from Kohima on November 4, underscores escalating environmental concerns in India's northeastern region.
- Nagaland lost 795 sq km of forest cover (2013–2023), the highest decline nationally, equating to roughly 5% of its geographical area.
- The report by Nagaland Post from Kohima on Nov 4 flags a critical environmental crisis for India's Northeast.
- Officials and activists urge immediate policy intervention, strengthened enforcement, and community-led reforestation to reverse the trend.
Nagaland has recorded the highest rate of forest decline in the country, losing 795 square kilometers of forest cover between 2013 and 2023—equivalent to roughly 5 percent of the state's total geographical area. The breaking report, filed from Kohima by correspondent Nagaland Post on November 4, marks a significant environmental alarm for India's northeastern region.
The decadelong loss represents a critical turning point for Nagaland's biodiversity and climate resilience, with forest cover shrinking at a pace that outpaces most other Indian states. Environmental analysts note that the region's fragile ecosystem, already strained by shifting cultivation, infrastructure expansion, and changing land-use patterns, has seen accelerated degradation despite previous conservation initiatives. The latest data suggests a reversal of earlier gains and raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of current forest management policies in the state.
According to the Nagaland Post report, Principal Secretary for Environment and Forests, Kikheto Sema, emphasized that the state government is "reviewing the alarming trends" and exploring immediate remedial measures to arrest further loss. Environmental NGOs operating in the region described the figures as "a wake-up call," urging both the forest department and local communities to prioritize sustainable land practices and reforestation efforts. The state's forest department, while acknowledging the severity, pointed to ongoing satellite monitoring and intensified patrolling as part of a broader response strategy.
