Elephants help India’s forests store carbon, study says

What Happened

The Hindu reports a scientific study that examines how protecting the endangered Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) in India relates to forest carbon storage. Researchers found that the expansion of the elephant-reserve network from 18,297 square kilometers (across three reserves) to 80,777 square kilometers (across 33 reserves) coincided with an estimated 38% rise in carbon stored within these reserves. They emphasize that the gain largely reflects enhanced protection and reduced degradation of existing forest carbon stocks, rather than elephants creating new forest biomass. The study also notes a shrinking elephant population under a newer census method (SAIEE 2021-25), with a count of 22,446, which is 4,065 fewer than the 2017 estimate. It cautions that administrative declarations alone cannot guarantee the species’ future if habitats remain fragmented or poorly managed. The authors, Tarun Kathula and Tanu Jindal of Amity University in Noida, published their analysis in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The researchers also draw a parallel with African savannah patterns where mega-herbivore management has been linked to increases in vegetation carbon stocks, suggesting a broader principle that mega-fauna protection can align with forest-carbon goals and climate mitigation strategies within policy frameworks like REDD+.

Why It Matters

The study argues that protecting elephants supports forest carbon storage, which is a key component of climate mitigation efforts. It highlights that the majority of the observed carbon gain appears to come from protecting existing forests rather than creating new biomass through elephants. If such practices are integrated into national forest and climate policies, they could influence India’s forest-carbon accounting and REDD+-related strategies. The researchers also stress cautious interpretation of wildlife-carbon relationships given differing counting methods and administrative approaches to conservation, illustrating the need for robust habitat management alongside reserve expansion to maintain both biodiversity and carbon stores over time.

Background

The research analyzes India’s elephant-conservation efforts, reserve expansions, and carbon stock changes from 1992 to 2025. It notes that the elephant-reserve network expanded from 18,297 sq km to 80,777 sq km, with elephant numbers rising marginally (about 6.7%). It acknowledges that the SAIEE 2021-25 census produced lower elephant counts than the 2017 estimate and that the two methods should not be directly compared. The authors emphasize that habitat quality, wildlife corridors, and forest management are crucial for long-term carbon stabilization and species survival, rather than relying solely on new reserve declarations.

Key Facts

• Elephant-reserve area increased from 18,297 sq km to 80,777 sq km, across three to 33 reserves.
• Elephant population rose by about 6.7% between 1992-93 estimates and later figures.
• Estimated carbon stored within elephant reserves increased by 38% during the period studied.
• The majority (about 95%) of carbon increase is attributed to expansion and protection of existing forest areas, not direct biomass growth from elephants.
• SAIEE 2021-25 counted 22,446 elephants, which is 4,065 fewer than the 2017 estimate; the two counts use different methodologies and are not directly comparable.
• The authors are Tarun Kathula and Tanu Jindal of Amity University, Noida; the study is published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
• Researchers compare patterns with African savannahs where megafauna management has been linked to higher vegetation carbon stocks.
• Policy implications discussed include integrating wildlife-inclusive accounting within REDD+ frameworks to bolster climate-mitigation goals.

What Happens Next

The article notes the need for cautious interpretation of wildlife-carbon relationships and for policy integration that links conservation with climate mitigation. It implies continued emphasis on habitat quality, corridor restoration, and robust forest management to sustain carbon stores alongside elephant conservation, within relevant national and international frameworks.