MoSPI Releases Forest Environmental Accounts Valuing Carbon, Timber & Ecosystem Services
SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 15: Life on Land
Institutions: Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation | Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) published the eighth edition of “Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025”, creating a state-wise forest accounting framework aligned with the UN SEEA (System of Environmental Economic Accounts).
The report comprises two volumes: Volume I explains methodology, national data, and analytical frameworks (Physical Asset Accounts, Extent Accounts, Condition Accounts, Service Accounts). Volume II provides state/UT level data on forest cover change, condition (growing stock), and valuations of provisioning services (timber, non-timber products) and regulating services (carbon retention).
Key findings include:
From 2010-11 to 2021-22, forest cover grew by 17,444.61 sq km (22.5%), reaching 7.15 lakh sq km, ~21.76% of India’s geographic area.
Carbon retention (regulating services) valuation increased by 51.82%, from ₹ 409.1 thousand crore to ₹ 620.97 thousand crore.
The value of provisioning services rose from ₹ 30.72 to ₹ 37.93 thousand crore, ~0.16% of GDP in 2021-22.
By quantifying the ecological, economic, and climate value of forests in monetary terms, the report strengthens evidence for conservation, restoration, and forest policy interventions. It enables more informed decisions on forest management, incentive design (e.g. payments for ecosystem services), and climate mitigation strategies. For Indian states, including Madhya Pradesh, it provides benchmarking to track forest health and resource mobilisation aligned with India’s net-zero and biodiversity goals.
What is Carbon Retention (Regulating Service) Valuation?
Forests provide regulating services by maintaining ecological balance. A key example is carbon retention—the process of absorbing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) in trees, soil, and biomass, thereby reducing greenhouse gases and moderating climate change. The valuation of carbon retention expresses this benefit in monetary terms, showing the economic worth of forests’ climate role (e.g., ₹ 620.97 thousand crore in 2021-22).
What Are Provisioning Services?
Provisioning services are the tangible goods humans obtain directly from ecosystems. In the case of forests, this includes timber, bamboo, fuelwood, medicinal plants, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs). These are measured in both physical terms (quantities) and monetary value, reflecting their contribution to livelihoods and the economy.
Follow the full report here: Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025