Assam implements Forest Soil Health Cards for better management

Forest authorities in Assam are set to introduce forest soil health cards to improve soil management. This initiative will help them expand their role beyond protecting forests from illegal activities. The move is also part of India's commitment to addressing climate change. A training program was held at Assam Forest School in Jalukbari. It focused on soil testing and nutrient management in forest ecosystems. The event had 42 forest officials from 22 divisions in attendance, including key directors from ICFRE and Assam Forest School. The training emphasized the importance of soil health in sustaining ecosystems. An official highlighted concerns about nutrient depletion and carbon loss affecting soil productivity. India's commitment at the 2015 UN climate summit aims to establish an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. Until now, the existing Soil Health Card Scheme by the Union agriculture ministry only covered agricultural lands, leaving forest soils out. To address this, the Union ministry of environment has funded a project to create forest soil health cards for 788 divisions across India. The project in Assam was completed in February 2025, following consultations with the state forest department. Training for frontline staff on implementing these health cards was part of the recent program. Senior scientist Dinesh K Meena explained how to interpret the health cards based on soil conditions in different areas. Other experts discussed the roles of various fertilizers in addressing nutrient deficiencies and sustainable forestry practices for improving soil health. The formal distribution of forest soil health cards to all divisions is seen as a significant step towards better soil management in Assam's forests.