India, Oct. 30 -- Warming oceans and rising atmospheric dryness are intensifying ecological droughts across India's forests and croplands.

Forests in the Himalayas, Northeast, Central India and the Western Ghats are showing clear signs of vegetation stress and browning.

Human pressures such as deforestation and rapid population growth are compounding drought risks.

IIT Kharagpur scientists warn that India's key carbon sink regions may turn into carbon sources if trends continue.

The study urges policymakers to integrate ecological drought adaptation into sustainability planning.

Ecologically fragile forests in the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, and the Northeast, along with croplands in central India, are increasingly facing ecologica...