Criteria tweak ‘cuts’ Assam forest by 99%

A retired official said Assam's restrictive forest criteria led to 99% of woodland in Dima Hasao losing protections, sparking concerns over state definitions

NEW DELHI: A retired forest official has flagged how Assam’s restrictive technical criteria to define what is a forest led to 99% of acknowledged woodland — roughly 1,153 of 1,168 hectares --- in Dima Hasao region to be stripped of forest safeguards.

The dramatic reduction occurred despite state authorities acknowledging the area consists of “unclassed state forest” with 20% to 70% tree cover that “falls within the definition of forest (Parikhit Saikia / HT Archive)

The dramatic reduction, detailed in a February Central Empowered Committee report, occurred despite state authorities acknowledging the area consists of “unclassed state forest” with 20% to 70% tree cover that “falls within the definition of forest as per