Since 2000, India has experienced a loss of 2.33 million hectares of tree cover, a six percent decline in tree cover, as per the most recent data from the Global Forest Watch monitoring project. The Global Forest Watch reported that the country witnessed a loss of 414,000 hectares of humid primary forest (4.1 percent) from 2002 to 2023, constituting 18 percent of its total tree cover depletion within the same period.

As per the report forests in India emitted 51 million tons of carbon dioxide and removed 141 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. This represents a net carbon sink of 89.9 million tons of carbon dioxide.In total, 1.12 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent was emitted during this period.

The data showed that 95 per cent of the tree cover loss in India from 2013 to 2023 occurred within natural forests.

Assam had the maximum tree cover loss at 324,000 hectares followed by  Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur.

Tree canopy density (TCD) defines forest cover and is divided  into four categories 

Very Dense Forest (TCD: 70% or more)

Moderately Dense Forest (TCD: 40% to70 %)

Open Forest (TCD: 10% to 40%)

Scrub (TCD: less than 10%)