India gained around 2.1 million hectares of tropical dry woodland between 2014 and 2024 – an area larger than Wales – according to a major new study involving researchers from The University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute.
The research found that large-scale tree planting, restoration schemes and expanding plantations have likely transformed woodland cover across parts of the country over the past decade.
But the study also warns that headline gains can hide a more complicated picture, with native woodlands still being lost in some areas even as overall tree cover increases.
Key findings
India gained around 2.1 million hectares of tropical dry woodland between 2014 and 2024
Government forest lands saw major gains linked to restoration and afforestation programmes
Many woodland increases outside government lands appear likely to be linked to timber and tree-crop plantations
Researchers also recorded continued woodland loss in some important native forest areas
Scientists say national tree-cover figures can mask important differences between natural forests and plantations
What did the study find?
The study mapped changes in India’s tropical dry woodlands – which cover vast areas of the country, but have received far less scientific and conservation attention than tropical rainforests – over a ten-year period using high-resolution satellite imagery.
The researchers found a large overall increase in woodland cover across the country, driven partly by major government-backed restoration efforts including the Green India Mission, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund and the National Afforestation Programme.
The findings suggest these schemes are having a visible impact on the landscape.
Where are the new woodlands appearing?
The study found contrasting patterns inside and outside government-managed forest land.
Within state-administered forest areas, researchers say gains are likely linked to restoration and conservation programmes aimed at increasing forest cover and meeting climate goals.
Outside government lands, however, many gains appear to come from commercial timber plantations and tree crops in agricultural landscapes.
Why this matters
India’s tropical dry woodlands are among the country’s most important but overlooked ecosystems.
They support wildlife, store carbon and provide livelihoods for millions of people, especially in poorer rural regions.
Researchers say understanding exactly what kind of woodland is increasing – and where – matters for biodiversity, climate policy and local communities.
Tree cover is not always the same as forest recovery
The researchers warn that national statistics showing rising tree cover do not always mean natural forests are recovering.
Some native dry woodlands inside protected or government-managed areas continued to experience losses during the study period.
Scientists say plantations can provide economic and climate benefits, but they may not fully replace the biodiversity and ecological value of long-established natural woodlands.
How researchers tracked the changes
The team used satellite imagery to reconstruct changes in woodland cover across India between 2014 and 2024 at very high detail.
This allowed them to identify where woodland was expanding, where it was being lost, and how those patterns differed across landscapes and land ownership types.
What the researchers said
“Our study shows that India has seen substantial gains in dry woodland cover over the past decade,” said lead author Dhanapal Govindarajulu. “A lot of this appears linked to major restoration and afforestation programmes, which demonstrates the scale of change that government policy can achieve – but we also found that not all woodland gains are the same.”
Why it matters now
Countries around the world are pledging large-scale tree planting and forest restoration as part of climate and biodiversity targets.
Researchers say the study highlights the importance of looking beyond headline numbers to understand whether restoration efforts are protecting natural ecosystems, supporting wildlife and benefiting local communities.
Publication details
The research was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ae61cb
