📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Alexander Gerst
Science
Assam loses 3,600 sq km of tree cover, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao hardest hit
✍️ The Borderlens
🗓 23 Oct 2026, 04:03 AM
👁 17
Satellite analysis shows Assam’s forested area fell by 3,600 square kilometres, with the districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao experiencing the steepest decline.
Satellite monitoring released this week indicates that Assam’s total tree cover has contracted by roughly 3,600 square kilometres over the recent assessment period. The loss is recorded across the state, but the districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao account for a disproportionate share of the decline.
Both Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, located in the hilly interior of Assam, showed the steepest drop in forested area compared with other districts. The data does not specify the exact drivers, but the magnitude of loss underscores heightened pressure on these ecologically sensitive zones.
The reduction in canopy cover raises concerns about biodiversity, soil erosion, and regional climate regulation. Experts warn that continued deforestation could exacerbate flood risks and threaten wildlife habitats that depend on these forests.
Authorities and conservation groups are being urged to use the findings to prioritize reforestation and stricter monitoring in the affected districts, aiming to curb further degradation and restore ecological balance.
Both Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, located in the hilly interior of Assam, showed the steepest drop in forested area compared with other districts. The data does not specify the exact drivers, but the magnitude of loss underscores heightened pressure on these ecologically sensitive zones.
The reduction in canopy cover raises concerns about biodiversity, soil erosion, and regional climate regulation. Experts warn that continued deforestation could exacerbate flood risks and threaten wildlife habitats that depend on these forests.
Authorities and conservation groups are being urged to use the findings to prioritize reforestation and stricter monitoring in the affected districts, aiming to curb further degradation and restore ecological balance.