TestCloud
Prep • Practice • Perform
Log In

According to Global Forest Watch Report India Lost 18,200 Hectares of Primary Forest in 2024.

International | Dated: 25 May 2025

In May 2025, the Global Forest Watch (GFW) — a global initiative involving over 100 organizations — released new data highlighting a concerning rise in forest loss across India. According to the report, India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest in 2024, an increase from the 17,700 hectares lost in 2023.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Between 2002 and 2024, India experienced the loss of 348,000 hectares (or 348 kilo hectares - kha) of humid primary forest, accounting for 5.4% of its total humid primary forest area.
  • - This forest loss made up 15% of India’s total tree cover loss during the same period.
  • - From 2019 to 2024, India lost 103 kha (1.6%) of its humid primary forest, representing 14% of its total tree cover loss over those years.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The year 2024 marked an unprecedented global forest loss, especially across tropical regions, where a record 6.7 million hectares of primary rainforest vanished, largely due to widespread wildfires.
  • (ii) The data was compiled by Global Forest Watch, an initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI), USA, in partnership with the University of Maryland.
  • (iii) GFW utilizes satellite imagery from the Landsat program and region-specific algorithms to accurately detect changes in forest cover and track the loss of primary forest over time. This report underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts and improved forest management in India and across the globe to combat the accelerating pace of deforestation.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

As per the Global Forest Watch (GFW) report released in May 2025, how much primary forest did India lose in 2024?

Correct Answer: 18,200 hectares

🚀 Quick Recap: