2025: Time to take stock of Goa's forest health

Franky Gracias

GONE FOREVER

If the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 is to be believed, Goa has lost 150 hectares of forest land between 2021 and 2023.

Goa | Forests | ISFR 2023 | Environment | Biodiversity | Photo: Nivrutti Shirodkar

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?

Environmentalists are seeing red over the report and have blamed the Goa government's faulty land-use policy.

Goa | Forests | ISFR 2023 | Environment | Biodiversity

DANGER ZONE

Environmentalist Claude Alvares has warned that the uncontrolled clearing of forests leaves the soil susceptible to landslides during heavy rains.

Goa | Forests | ISFR 2023 | Environmentalist | Claude Alvares

RED ALERT

He has warned that if trees on forested hills are cut without applying scientific principles, then a Wayanad-like disaster is inevitable.

Goa | Tiger Reserve | Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary | Forests

FINDING BALANCE

The deforestation has experts worried, and they have called for a balance between development and conservation of forests.

Goa | Forests | ISFR 2023 | Environment | Biodiversity

VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, too, has raised concerns about forest areas being felled for cashew plantations, especially in interior villages like Caranzol in Sattari taluka.

Goa | Schools | Kids For Tigers | KFT | Rajendra Kerkar | Photo: Jithin Mohammed

TOWARDS A GREEN FUTURE

The future of Goa's green cover is directly linked to how much people care about conserving their forests.

Goa | Western Ghats | Reptiles | Forest cover

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