A regional disaster risk reduction hub for the Himalayas inaugurated

A disaster risk reduction hub for the Hindu Kush Himalayas inaugurated

The Hindu Kush Himalayan Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Hub inaugurated last month, aims to accelerate understanding, information-sharing and action to address the increasing number and intensity of disasters in the Himalayan mountains which are spread across 3,500 kilometres in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

It is estimated that over 241 million people inhabit the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, the source of 10 major river systems, including the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra (Mongabay, India).

Sacred groves recognised as forests

The Supreme Court has, through the ruling, made a conscious effort to move beyond the conventional indicators of forest density and focus on a more inclusive, ecosystem-centric approach that values ecological functionality and cultural significance.

The order has come in response to a petition that asked for Orans, sacred groves in Rajasthan to be classified as forests so that they could be protected under the law. Orans cover over 600,000 hectares in the state and are important biodiversity hotspots, water recharge zones and community resources.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement, has asked the Union government to frame a policy to conserve sacred groves across the country and directed Rajasthan to expedite surveys of these groves, to classify them as forests and involve local communities in conserving them.

This was the latest verdict by the court in response to a public interest litigation that had been filed in 1995. As the court monitors the progress of its initial judgement in TN Godavarman vs Union of India delivered in 1996, it has issued several subsequent orders.

In the 1996 judgement, the Supreme Court broadened the definition of forests. It said that the word “forest” must be understood according to its dictionary meaning, irrespective of ownership, legal status and vegetation. This paved the way for sacred groves to eventually be recognised as forests (The Scroll).

The Forest Survey of India report shows a decline in forests in biodiversity rich areas

The Forest Survey of India has released its 18th India State of Forest Report, indicating a marginal increase in India’s forest and tree cover. According to the report, India’s total forest and tree cover is 8,27,357 square kilometres, accounting for 25.17 percent of the country’s geographical area. This includes 7,15,343 sq km (21.76 percent) of forest cover and 1,12,014 sq km (3.41 percent) of tree cover.

According to the report, there has been an increase of 1,446 square km in forest and tree cover since 2021 - a forest cover increase of 156 sq km (0.2 percent) and a tree cover increase of 1,289 sq km (1.16 percent). Forests areas include reserved forests and protected forests and non-notified forests.

While recorded forest areas show a minor increase of 7.28 sq km, twenty states and union territories such as Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the majority of North East states have registered negative growth in the recorded forest area. In contrast, non-notified forests have increased by 149 sq km.

Proposed bill to save Kerala's forests faces stiff opposition from farmers

A proposed bill in the Kerala State Assembly seeks to amend the Kerala Forest Act of 1961 to enhance protection and conservation efforts in the state's forest areas with a special focus on the Western Ghats region.

This initiative comes in response to increasing human-animal conflicts, climate change, and the declining green cover in the biodiversity-rich region.

While conservation experts and activists view it as a landmark measure for ensuring effective conservation, it has led to resistance from settler farmers living on the fringes of the forests in the Western Ghats.

As per the draft published by the Legislative Assembly, the objective of the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill 2024, dumping of waste materials in the forest and rivers within the forest area or flowing into forest areas is to be made an offence. The bill also proposes to give more power to forest officers and imposing higher fines for various offences.

Also, many rivers pass through human settlements before entering forest areas. This has raised concerns that the amendment may grant forest officials authority over sections of rivers that lie outside forest boundaries, potentially subjecting residents to various forest-related offences (Down To Earth).

Latest CGWB report highlights widespread groundwater contamination in India

The contamination has been found to be severe in the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with more than 40 percent of water samples exceeding the nitrate permissible limit followed by Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh which also show notable levels of nitrate contamination. The nitrate contamination has been attributed to agricultural runoff and overuse of nitrogen-based fertilisers.

Around 42 percent and 30 percent of uranium-contaminated samples were from Rajasthan and Punjab, respectively, where levels exceeded 100 ppb. Around 9.04 percent of samples had fluoride levels above the limit, while 3.55 percent had arsenic contamination. Long-term exposure to fluoride and arsenic can cause fluorosis and cancer or skin lesions respectively. Arsenic concentration has been found in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, Chandigarh, Punjab and Chhattisgarh.

The CGWB report finds a correlation between areas with high uranium concentrations in groundwater and groundwater stress, which shows the impact of overexploitation and deepening water levels on uranium contamination in these regions (Mongabay, India).

This is a roundup of important news updates from the 1st January 2025 to 15th January 2025. Also view our policy updates here.