🌳 Chapter 04 · Topic 03 · Deforestation

Deforestation — Causes, Effects & Solutions

Causes, effects, shifting cultivation, REDD+, afforestation, reforestation — complete UPSC & PSC notes.

What is Deforestation?

Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests and conversion of forested land to non-forest use such as agriculture, urban development, mining, or infrastructure. It is distinct from forest degradation, which involves reduction in forest quality without complete removal.

📌 Key Distinction: Deforestation = permanent removal of forest cover. Forest Degradation = reduction in forest quality (density, biodiversity) without complete removal. Both are addressed under REDD+.

Causes of Deforestation

🔴 Direct Causes

Agricultural expansion — most important cause globally and in India
Urbanisation and infrastructure development
Mining and quarrying
Fuelwood and charcoal collection
Timber extraction (legal and illegal logging)
Shifting cultivation (Jhum)

🟡 Indirect Causes

Population growth and poverty
Weak governance and enforcement
Overgrazing by livestock
Forest fires (natural and man-made)
Demand for paper and pulp
Road construction through forests

Effects of Deforestation

Domain	Effect
Soil	Soil erosion, loss of topsoil, landslides, desertification
Climate	Release of stored CO₂ → global warming; disruption of local rainfall patterns
Water Cycle	Reduced transpiration → less rainfall; increased surface runoff → flooding
Biodiversity	Habitat loss → species extinction; fragmentation of wildlife corridors
Livelihoods	Loss of tribal and forest-dependent community livelihoods
Rivers	Increased siltation of rivers and reservoirs; reduced river flow
Atmosphere	Reduced carbon sequestration; increased greenhouse gas emissions

Deforestation in India — Hotspots

North-East India: Shifting cultivation (Jhum), infrastructure projects, population pressure
Western Ghats: Plantation agriculture (tea, coffee, rubber), urbanisation, mining
Central India: Mining (coal, iron ore), infrastructure, encroachment
Andaman & Nicobar: Development projects, settlement

Shifting Cultivation (Jhum Cultivation)

Also called slash and burn agriculture or swidden agriculture
Practiced mainly in North-East India (Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya)
Process: clear a patch of forest → burn → cultivate for 2–3 years → abandon → move to new patch
Traditional rotation cycle: 10–15 years (sustainable); now reduced to 2–3 years (unsustainable)
Leads to: soil degradation, loss of forest cover, erosion, reduced biodiversity
Known by different names: Jhum (NE India), Podu (Andhra Pradesh/Odisha), Bewar/Dahiya (MP), Kumari (Western Ghats)

🌿 Exam Note: Shifting cultivation is NOT always harmful — traditional long-rotation Jhum (10–15 years) allows forest regeneration. It becomes destructive when the rotation cycle is shortened due to population pressure.

Solutions to Deforestation

Solution	Description
Afforestation	Planting trees on land that was NOT previously forested
Reforestation	Replanting trees on land that was previously forested
Social Forestry	Community-based tree planting on common/government land
Agroforestry	Integrating trees with crops and livestock on farmland
JFM	Joint Forest Management — community participation in forest protection
REDD+	UN mechanism — financial incentives for reducing deforestation
Eco-Sensitive Zones	Buffer zones around protected areas to regulate development
Forest Rights Act 2006	Recognising tribal rights reduces encroachment and conflict

REDD+ — Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

Full form: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (the “+” includes conservation, sustainable management, and enhancement of carbon stocks)
Developed under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
Mechanism: Developing countries receive financial payments (carbon credits) for reducing deforestation and forest degradation compared to a reference level
Addresses both deforestation (complete removal) and degradation (quality reduction)
India has developed a National REDD+ Strategy under MoEFCC
Key principle: “Payment for Ecosystem Services” — forests have economic value beyond timber

📌 REDD+ vs CDM: REDD+ focuses specifically on forests in developing countries. CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) under Kyoto Protocol is broader — covers all emission reduction projects. Both generate carbon credits.

Quick Revision Checklist

☐ Deforestation = permanent removal; Forest Degradation = quality reduction
☐ Most important cause: agricultural expansion
☐ Effects: soil erosion, biodiversity loss, CO₂ release, water cycle disruption, flooding
☐ Hotspots: NE India, Western Ghats, Central India
☐ Jhum = slash and burn = shifting cultivation; mainly NE India
☐ Jhum names: Podu (AP/Odisha), Bewar/Dahiya (MP), Kumari (W. Ghats)
☐ Traditional Jhum (10–15 yr rotation) = sustainable; short rotation = destructive
☐ REDD+ = UN mechanism; carbon credits for reducing deforestation
☐ REDD+ under UNFCCC; India has National REDD+ Strategy
☐ Solutions: afforestation, reforestation, social forestry, agroforestry, JFM