India has ascended to 9th position globally in terms of forest area, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The country also retained its 3rd position in annual forest area gain. This reflects India's success in afforestation and community-led green efforts.
Key Findings of the GFRA 2025
The GFRA 2025, a flagship report by the FAO released every five years, provides comprehensive data on global forest trends. The report highlighted a decline in deforestation rates compared to previous decades, with several countries showing significant improvements. Forests now cover 4.14 billion hectares, about one-third of the Earth's land area. The annual rate of net forest loss has decreased from 10.7 million hectares in the 1990s to 4.12 million hectares between 2015 and 2025.
India's Performance
India's performance in the GFRA 2025 is noteworthy. The country has improved its total forest area rank, moving from 10th to 9th globally. India maintains its 3rd place globally in annual forest area gain, demonstrating consistent and effective efforts in forest expansion and ecological restoration. From 2010 to 2020, India gained 266,000 hectares of forest area annually.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the achievement and reaffirmed India's commitment to sustainable forest management. He attributed this progress to the policies and programs implemented under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, which prioritize forest protection, afforestation, and community participation.
Government Initiatives and Public Participation
The Indian government has implemented several schemes and campaigns to promote afforestation and forest conservation. These include the Green India Mission, Compensatory Afforestation, and State CAMPA funds. The "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" campaign, launched by the Prime Minister, has played a significant role in galvanizing public participation in tree planting. This initiative encourages people to plant trees as a tribute to mothers, adding a cultural dimension to environmentalism.
The Environment Ministry has emphasized that India's rise in global forest rankings reflects the success of large-scale afforestation and community-led forest protection efforts. Growing public involvement is strengthening the nation's collective commitment towards a greener, more sustainable future.
India's Forest Diversity and Challenges
India boasts a diverse range of forest types, from tropical rainforests in the northeast to desert and thorn forests in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Mangrove forests are found in West Bengal, Orissa, and other coastal areas, while dry alpine forests are present in the western Himalayas. The most common forest types include tropical moist deciduous forests, tropical dry deciduous forests, and wet tropical evergreen forests.
Despite the progress in forest area gain, India faces challenges such as deforestation, climate change, and forest degradation. Climate change increases the vulnerability of forests to wildfires and pests. In 2023, wildfires emitted an estimated 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally.
To address these challenges, the Indian government has prepared the National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP). Sustainable forest management is at the core of India's National Forest Policy, with forest areas managed through effective implementation of scientifically prepared long-term management plans.
Global Context
The GFRA 2025 highlights the importance of forests in addressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The report emphasizes the need for innovation in the forest sector to scale up forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. India's progress in increasing its forest cover demonstrates its commitment to achieving global forest goals.
