Tamil Nadus Shrinking Forests Spark Climate Emergency in 2025
A significant decline in the state’s forest cover, which is now being recognised as a full-blown climate emergency. A new climate impact report highlights that the state has lost a substantial area of its dense and moderately dense forest over the past decade, a decline that has accelerated in recent years. This ecological downturn, driven by relentless urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and inadequate conservation efforts, poses a grave threat to the state’s ecological balance, economic stability, and the well-being of its citizens. The data points to a direct correlation between the loss of green cover and escalating environmental challenges like groundwater depletion, rising local temperatures, and erratic rainfall patterns, which are already having a tangible impact on daily life.
The latest findings are particularly alarming, showing a nearly 10% drop in total forest area within the last ten years alone. This rapid degradation is a direct consequence of multiple human-induced pressures. The relentless expansion of major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai has led to urban sprawl, encroaching upon vital green zones. Compounding this issue is illegal encroachment for agricultural purposes and unregulated land use, which are pushing the boundaries of protected forest areas. The report also highlights the damaging effects of mining and quarrying, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, which has fragmented key forest belts and disrupted fragile ecosystems. The loss of these green lungs is not confined to remote areas; even the fringe forests near towns and villages are succumbing to these pressures, leaving communities more vulnerable to climate shocks.
The consequences of this deforestation are already being felt across the state. The most immediate impact is on biodiversity, with a noticeable decline in various species of flora and fauna. These forests are critical habitats, and their destruction forces wildlife to either relocate or face extinction, thereby disrupting the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Another critical and deeply felt impact is the depletion of groundwater. Forests play a vital role in the hydrological cycle by helping to recharge underground aquifers. With fewer trees to capture and retain rainwater, the rate of runoff has increased, leading to a faster decline in groundwater levels, a crisis that has already manifested in cities and rural areas alike. This phenomenon of fewer trees leading to less water and more heat is a feedback loop that the state can ill-afford.
The report also identifies specific hotspots of forest loss, including the Nilgiris, Eastern Ghats, and the belts around Coimbatore and Dindigul, where urbanisation and commercial activities are taking a heavy toll. The degradation of these regions, which once served as crucial green corridors, has left them as fragmented patches, severely compromising their ability to support biodiversity and regulate climate. To mitigate this unfolding crisis, the report suggests a combination of stricter enforcement of existing forest protection laws, community-led reforestation efforts, and a firm political commitment to sustainable land-use planning. These measures, if implemented with urgency, can help reverse the trend and build more resilient, eco-friendly, and equitable cities for future generations. The fate of Tamil Nadu’s water security, agricultural productivity, and climate stability now hangs in the balance, making immediate action a necessity to prevent irreversible environmental damage.
