The UN’s Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 report, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), places India in the 9th position worldwide in terms of total forest area, moving up from the 10th spot in the previous assessment. India’s forest area stands at approximately 72.7 million hectares, representing about 2% of the world’s total forest cover. The country has also maintained its position as the 3rd highest in the world for annual net forest area gain, reinforcing the success of its afforestation and conservation programs, following only China and Russia in net gain figures.
India’s achievement is attributed to robust and consistent growth fueled by large-scale afforestation drives, such as the Green India Mission and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). These efforts are increasingly driven by community-led initiatives and aligned with the country’s National Forest Policy goal of bringing 33% of its land under forest and tree cover. Furthermore, the strong integration of trees into farmlands under Agroforestry systems—where India and Indonesia collectively account for around 70% of the global area—significantly contributes to the overall green cover expansion.The report highlights the vital role of Indian forests as significant carbon sinks, which is crucial for meeting the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. This progress reinforces India’s image as a responsible and leading environmental steward among emerging economies, balancing rapid economic growth with consistent ecological conservation efforts.
