📋 In This Article
Forests absorb approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year — about 30% of annual human emissions. They are the largest terrestrial carbon sink on Earth, and their destruction is accelerating climate change at a rate second only to burning fossil fuels.
How Forests Capture Carbon
Trees absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, storing carbon in wood, roots, leaves, and soil. A mature tropical tree can store 50–200 kg of carbon. Dense tropical forests store 150–200 tonnes of carbon per hectare — far more than cropland or grassland. When forests are burned or cleared, this stored carbon is released instantly.
India's Forest Cover and Carbon
India has 713,789 sq km of forest cover — about 21.7% of land area. The government's goal is 33% forest cover. India's forests currently act as a net carbon sink absorbing 15% of the country's annual emissions. Protecting and expanding this sink is one of India's most important climate commitments.
- India's forests absorb ~300 million tonnes CO₂ annually
- Sacred groves (400,000+ across India) protect ancient biodiversity
- Mangroves store 3–5× more carbon than tropical forests per hectare
- Agroforestry — integrating trees in farms — can double carbon storage on agricultural land
The Deforestation Problem
Global deforestation releases approximately 4.8 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year. India loses significant forest cover annually to mining, infrastructure, and agricultural expansion. Compensatory afforestation (planting elsewhere when forests are cleared) rarely replaces the ecological value of old-growth forest.
Supporting Forest Conservation
Individual actions include supporting organisations doing forest conservation work, buying FSC-certified wood products, avoiding products linked to deforestation (palm oil, soy from cleared land), and planting native trees. Supporting indigenous communities who have protected forests for generations is one of the most effective conservation investments.
Conclusion
Forests are not just a climate solution — they are water towers, biodiversity refuges, and the lungs of the Earth. Protecting every hectare of existing forest is as urgent as planting new ones.