Forest & Land Cover

These forests are home to 26 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) including the Birhor, Korwa, and Hill Kharia communities. For generations, tribal communities have depended on forests for food, medicine, fuel, and livelihood — collecting tendu leaves, mahua flowers, and sal seeds that form the basis of local economies. The Forest Rights Act of 2006 was intended to formalize these traditional rights, but implementation in Jharkhand has been uneven, with over 20,000 claims reportedly still unresolved.

Mining poses the most significant threat to Jharkhand's forests. The state sits atop vast mineral reserves — iron ore, coal, bauxite, and uranium — concentrated in the same regions that harbor the densest forests. The Saranda forest alone has witnessed over 100 mining leases, leading to deforestation, water contamination, and displacement of tribal communities. Balancing mineral extraction with forest conservation remains one of Jharkhand's most pressing environmental challenges, with civil society groups calling for stricter enforcement of the Forest Conservation Act and comprehensive rehabilitation packages.