Delayed snowfall will not help us
Finally Kashmir Valley had its rendezvous with snow as the region experienced its first snowfall this winter. Most of the districts in the valley experienced heavy snowfall with the exception of District Srinagar which did not get any snow but rains poured in hard and fast.
The delay in snowfall, or rather an extended dry season is becoming a routine now in Jammu and Kashmir with Kashmir Valley witnessing long dry winter months. Experts are putting the blame on climate change and depletion of forest cover in the region.
Importantly, forests serve as the vital link between humans and nature. They not only act as lungs for the universe, but also support the human race in various economic activities.
Ironically, the annual forest area decrease across the globe is around 10 million hectares, with some estimates suggesting a net loss of 4.7 million hectares per year. Presently, the world witnesses a net forest loss of around 4.7 million hectares per year with 95% of deforestation occurring in the tropics, with Latin America and Southeast Asia being the most affected regions
Though some recent trends have indicated a slowdown in the rate of deforestation, but the world is still falling short of targets aimed at ending deforestation by 2030. In 2023, forest loss exceeded targets, with 6.37 million hectares of forest destroyed, 45% above the levels needed to meet international goals.
In India the annual forest area decrease is around 18,200 hectares of primary cover. Between 2015 and 2020, India lost approximately 668,400 hectares of forests, ranking it second globally in deforestation, after Brazil.
The states like Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur are among the top states experiencing significant forest cover loss primarily because of shifting cultivation, agricultural expansion, logging, and natural disturbances.
However, there is some good news as India has climbed to the ninth spot globally in total forest area and retained its third rank in annual forest area gain, according to a report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The FAO report said the world’s total forest area stands at 4.14 billion hectares, covering 32 per cent of the planet’s land. More than half (54 per cent) of this is concentrated in just five countries i.e. Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China.
India follows Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia, placing it among the world’s top 10 forest-rich nations. Notably, China recorded the highest annual net gain in forest area between 2015 and 2025 at 1.69 million hectares per year, followed by the Russian Federation with 9,42,000 hectares and India with 1,91,000 hectares.
Importantly, the increased forest cover will bring numerous benefits to countries like India, as increased forests cover will act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The enhanced forests will provide habitats for diverse flora and fauna, supporting ecosystem services and preserving ecological balance, besides will help immensely to regulate the climate, maintain water cycles and prevent soil erosion, ensuring cleaner air and water.
An increase in forest cover is critical to the survival of people in regions like Kashmir valley which is totally dependent on its natural sources for its water needs. Besides, the region is also dependent on tourism activity and if the snowfall keeps on evading the region like it did during the past years, the tourist footfall will take a sever hit and so will our economy.
