Forest cover in India is expanding, says UN

India has reached a significant milestone in global environmental conservation, moving up to the 9th position in total forest area worldwide, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Bali.

The report reveals that India accounts for 2% of the world’s forest areas, with a total of 72.74 million hectares, placing it just behind Indonesia. In the 2015 assessment, India was ranked 10th. The growth in India’s forest cover is largely driven by the plantation of species such as bamboo and rubber.

Russia, Brazil, and Canada remain the top three countries with the largest forest areas globally. However, the annual rate of forest cover loss has increased globally. Between 2000 and 2015, forest loss averaged 3.68 million hectares per year, which has now risen to 4.12 million hectares due to a reduction in net forest gains in China, Canada, and the United States.

India has also achieved the third rank in the list of countries for annual net gain in forest area, with an annual increase of 191,000 hectares between 2015 and 2025.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change stated that this net gain underscores India’s commitment to sustainable forest management and ecological balance. The top two countries for annual net gain are China and the Russian Federation.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, announced this development in a social media post on 'X', stating that India ranks 9th in the Global Forest Assessment 2025.

“Here is a reason to rejoice for all Indians. We have achieved 9th rank in terms of forest area at the global level, compared to 10th spot in the previous assessment. We have also maintained our 3rd position globally in terms of annual gain,” said Yadav. He attributed this achievement to the Modi government’s policies, which have encouraged extensive plantation efforts by state governments.

“PM Narendra Modi ji’s call to plant 'Ek Ped Ma ke Naam' and his push for environmental consciousness are fostering awareness and increasing community and individual involvement in afforestation. This will help ensure a greener future for generations to come,” he added.

In the past 35 years, India’s forest area has increased from around 64 million hectares to 72.74 million hectares. Globally, India ranks fifth in rubber plantation and holds the top position in bamboo plantation.

[Written by Jitendra Choubey of The New Indian Express]