  India is the second-highest contributor to the post-2000 global greening.
With satellite data, here we show that this 18.51% increase in Leaf Area Index
(LAI) during 2001-2019 fails to translate into increased carbon uptake due to
warming constraints. Our analysis further shows 6.19% decrease in Net Primary
Productivity (NPP) during 2001-2019 over the temporally consistent forests in
India despite 6.75% increase in LAI. We identify hotspots of statistically
significant decreasing trends in NPP over the key forested regions of Northeast
India, Peninsular India, and the Western Ghats. Together, these areas
contribute to 31% of the NPP of India (1274.8 TgC.year -1). These regions are
the warming hotspots in India. Decreasing photosynthesis and stable
respiration, above a threshold temperature, are the key reasons behind the
declining NPP. Warming has already started affecting carbon uptake in Indian
forests and calls for improved climate resilient forest management practices in
a warming world.
