FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment: Global Deforestation Slows as Managed Forest Area Rises, India at 9th Position Globally in Total Forest Area
SDG 15: Life on Land | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
The Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025 is the flagship report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), providing the most comprehensive and transparent global evaluation of forest resources. This assessment found that forests cover approximately 4.14 billion hectares, or about 31–32% of the global land area. This data is essential for monitoring international commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Globally, the annual rate of net forest loss has substantially declined, falling from 10.7 million hectares (ha) per year in the 1990s to about 4.12–4.7 million ha per year in the most recent assessment period (2015–2025). While this slowing of net loss is a positive trend, gross deforestation continues at a rate of 10.9 million hectares per year, posing a risk to biodiversity and livelihoods. The steepest declines are observed in Africa and South America.
Encouragingly, forests worldwide are increasingly managed for sustainability:
More than half of the world’s forests (55%) are now covered by long-term management plans.
About 20% of forests are now located within legally established protected areas.
Planted forests, which account for about 8% of the total forest area, have expanded in size across all regions since 1990.
The greatest continuing physical threat remains forest fires, which affect an average of 261 million hectares of land annually.
For India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), which is the nodal agency for forestry policies, the FRA data provides a global benchmark for India’s own national afforestation and sustainable forest management efforts. India’s domestic efforts have resulted in the country climbing to the 9th position globally in total forest area and maintaining its 3rd rank in annual forest area gain. The global emphasis on managing disturbances (like fires and diseases) and ensuring sustainable tropical management highlights key risk areas that require continuous policy and investment focus to meet India’s climate targets and biodiversity goals.
What is Net Forest Loss?→ Net forest loss is the total area of forest lost through deforestation (conversion of forest to another land use, such as agriculture) minus the area gained through afforestation (planting trees) or natural forest expansion. The reduction in the net loss rate means gains in forest area in some countries are partially offsetting losses due to deforestation elsewhere.
Follow the full report here: Forest Resources Assessment - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations