India moves up to 9th Position Globally in Forest Area

India has achieved a significant milestone in global environmental conservation, moving up to the 9th position in terms of total forest area globally, as per the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Bali. 

India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Mr Bhupender Yadav, informed about this development in a social media post.

In the previous assessment, India was ranked 10th. The country has also maintained its 3rd position worldwide in terms of annual forest area gain, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and ecological balance, according to the Minister.

According to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the total forest cover of the country is 7,13,789 square kilometres, which is 21.71% of the geographical area. In terms of size, it has increased by 7449 square kilometres according to the ISFR 2021 assessment compared to the ISFR 2017 assessment. 

Several public and private initiatives have led to an increase in forest coverage; the government, through MoEF&CC, has introduced and implemented several initiatives on reforestation, afforestation, and restoring degraded ecosystems. 

Mr Yadav, in his post, noted that this remarkable progress underscores the success of the Government of India’s policies and programmes under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aimed at forest protection, afforestation, and community-led environmental action. 

The Prime Minister’s call for ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ and his continued emphasis on environmental consciousness have inspired people across the nation to participate actively in tree plantation and protection. 

This growing public participation is fostering a strong sense of collective responsibility towards a greener and sustainable future.

The achievement comes on the back of the Modi government’s planning and policies for the protection and enhancement of the forest and massive plantation efforts by State Governments, the Minister stated.

However, concerns remain about the kind of forest coverage in India, as focusing solely on this metric can be misleading. Tree cover may exclude fragmented forests, which are not ideal ecosystems because they do not allow wildlife to move freely.

In a recent study, remote sensing data and open-source digital tools were used to map forest connectivity in India, revealing that all states experienced a net loss in forest cover.

The fragmented forests prevent species from finding food, mates, and suitable habitats, which are essential for supporting healthy populations and genetic diversity.

While rising to 9th position in global total forest area is a commendable achievement, continued efforts are necessary, as forests play an unparalleled role in addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, water security, and community well-being.

Protecting and restoring forests is one of the most cost-effective actions governments can take to secure long-term environmental and economic stability.