Is Urban Growth Driving Forest Loss in India’s Biodiversity Hotspots?

Remote sensing data reveals alarming forest loss in the Himalayas and Western Ghats.

Urbanisation is accelerating environmental changes in India's most fragile ecosystems.

• Remote sensing data shows a dramatic increase in urbanisation and a corresponding loss of forests in India’s Himalayas and Western Ghats.

  
  

• Land use changes, including deforestation and agricultural expansion, are severely threatening biodiversity in these regions.

  
  

• Predictions indicate that urban expansion will further intensify, reducing forest cover and increasing environmental vulnerability by 2055.

  
  

In two of India’s most ecologically sensitive regions—the Himalayas and the Western Ghats—rapid urbanisation and changes in land use are leading to substantial forest loss. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun, using satellite data, documented major land use and land cover changes (LULCC) from 1975 to 2015 in the Western Himalayas. Their findings show a sharp increase in urban areas and a significant decline in forest cover, revealing the fragile mountain ecosystem is under immense pressure from urban expansion, population growth, and agricultural encroachment.

This trend is particularly concerning due to its broader environmental impact. Forests play a vital role in regulating the ecosystem, supporting biodiversity, and maintaining water systems. Losing these critical habitats to urbanisation not only threatens wildlife but also weakens the resilience of these regions to climate change. According to the study, urbanisation in the Western Himalayan Region surged by 184%, leading to a significant 11% decrease in forest areas and an 8% reduction in water bodies.

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Technical Focus: Urban Growth and Land Use Impact

India’s rapid urbanisation has been particularly striking in regions like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where unchecked development has transformed once densely forested areas into sprawling urban centres. This growth raises concerns about ecosystem services such as water retention and biodiversity preservation. A recent study on Nainital district in Uttarakhand shows that urbanisation led to an 11% decline in natural forests between 1991 and 2023.

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Professor Prakash Chandra Tiwari of Kumaun University highlights that urbanisation is one of the most significant drivers of environmental change in the Himalayas, especially in Uttarakhand. He notes that land use intensification in both urban and peri-urban zones has severely impacted the environment. “Unplanned urban growth has reduced forest cover and biodiversity, depleted water sources, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters,” he says, echoing the findings of other researchers who have also observed this alarming trend.

The Western Ghats, another biodiversity hotspot, face similar issues. A study by T.V. Ramchandra of the Indian Institute of Science found that evergreen forests in the Western Ghats have declined by 5% due to urbanisation and agricultural activities. Fragmentation of forests has severely affected the water retention capacity of the region's catchments, highlighting the need for integrated water management strategies to preserve both human livelihoods and the environment.

As urban growth continues at a rapid pace, researchers urge stronger policies focused on environmental impact assessments and sustainable land-use planning. Without immediate intervention, both the Himalayas and the Western Ghats risk further ecological degradation, with irreversible consequences for biodiversity, water resources, and local communities.