GFRA 2025: India 9th in Forest Area, 3rd in Annual Gain
Why in the news
The FAO assessment credits India’s decades of restoration policy with a top-ten forest position.
About GFRA 2025
- Covers 236 countries; blends satellite imagery, national reporting and modelling; marks 80 years of monitoring.
Global figures
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Forest area | 4.14 billion ha; tropical 45% |
| Biggest holders | Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, China |
| Annual gain | 6.78 million ha |
| Planted forests | 8%; Asia 23% |
| Protected | 813 million ha (20%) |
| Carbon | 714 Gt; 46% soil, 44% biomass |
| Ownership | 71% public, 24% private or community |
India
- Programmes: Green India Mission, CAMPA, NAP; Van Dhan Yojana and Joint Forest Management for communities.
- Measures: biodiversity corridors, mangroves, carbon sinks; Bhuvan and AI mapping.
Concerns
- Farming and mining pressure, wildfires, pests, climate stress.
- Patchy restoration funding and habitat fragmentation.
Way forward
- Community forestry, satellite carbon accounting, global knowledge sharing, eco-tourism, stronger laws and funding.
Exam angle
- Publisher: FAO.
- India: 9th by area, 3rd in yearly gain.