Volume 9 | Issue 4

 Abstract

The impact of population growth on the forest cover has been much debated worldwide. There is a reciprocal relationship between population growth and forest cover. In other words, population growth turns out to be the main cause of deforestation in many parts of the world. Continued deforestation threatens the well-being and livelihood of millions of people who largely depends on the forest resources. The regions experiencing rapid population growth are reportedly the major areas where deforestation is occurring at alarming rates. Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh is inhabited by the Monpa tribes who derive their daily requirements like firewood, timber, medicinal plants, food and fodder for their animals from the forest. With the increase in population, the extraction of forest items has also intensified in the recent decades. The firewood extraction appears to be causing maximum impact on forest degradation. The area is characterized by longer winter months so firewood forms the basic source of heating the houses. Every year each household burns at least two fully matured trees to keep their houses warm. The other forms of extraction like timber, food, fodder, medicinal plants, etc. are also contributing in the overall deforestation. Consequently, many important plant species like rhododendron, oak, pine, taxus etc. are largely threatened in the area. The paper attempts to examine the population growth trend in the Tawang district and its impact on the forest cover. The study is based on both primary and secondary data sources to analyze the relationship between population growth and forest cover change.

Licence: creative commons attribution 4.0

  License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Population Growth; Forest Cover; Deforestation; Firewood

  License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition