SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 15: Life on Land
Institution: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 (GFRA 2025) notes that India has advanced to 9th place globally in terms of total forest area, from its previous 10th-rank. Importantly, India continues to hold 3rd place globally for annual forest-area gain. The progress is attributed to national afforestation programmes, community involvement, and policy initiatives.
This milestone signals India’s commitment to forest-based carbon-sinks, ecosystem restoration under frameworks such as Paris Agreement, and aligns with SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The shift up the global forest-ranking also elevates India’s international environmental credentials and may influence future multilateral climate engagements and funding for forest-ecosystem services.
What is FAO? → The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised UN agency founded in 1945, headquartered in Rome. It leads global efforts to achieve food security, promote sustainable agriculture and forestry, and monitor natural resource use worldwide.
What is the Global Forest Resources Assessment? → The GFRA is a comprehensive global assessment of forest resources and trends, published approximately every five years by the FAO, covering indicators like forest area, change rates, management status, and more.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How will India translate the global ranking progress into long-term forest health and resilience, ensuring gains are sustainable (not just in area but in forest quality, biodiversity and ecosystem services)?
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https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2181416