Why in the news?

  • The 2025 edition of Global Forest Resources Assessment ranked India at 9th position in Total Forest Area and 3rd in Annual Net Forest Gain.

Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025

  • What is it?:
    • The GFRA is a periodic assessment undertaken by FAO to provide comprehensive global data on forests such as their extent, change, management and utilisation.
    • It classifies forests broadly into naturally regenerating and planted forests.
    • GFRA 2025 provides the latest figures (to ~2025) on global forest area, net gains/losses, carbon sinks and related forestry metrics.
  • Key Findings- Global:
    • Total global forest area stands at approximately 4.14 billion hectares, which is about 32% of Earth’s land area.
    • The annual rate of net forest loss has fallen over the years.
    • Between 2021-25:
      • Forests globally sequestered ~3.6 Gt CO₂/yr.
      • Emissions from net forest conversion were ~2.8 Gt CO₂/yr.
      • Net forest carbon removals (sequestration minus emissions) ~0.8 Gt CO₂/yr – nearly double what it was a decade earlier (~1.4 Gt CO₂/yr).
  • India’s Performance:
    • India has moved up to 9th position globally in terms of total forest area.
    • India retains 3rd position globally for net annual forest area gain.
    • India is ranked 5th among the world’s top carbon sinks, with its forests removing about 150 Mt (=0.15 Gt) of CO₂ per year during 2021–2025.
    • India accounts for approximately 72,739 thousand hectares (~727.39 million ha) of forest area, which is about 2% of the world’s total.
    • In Asia overall, forest carbon removals increased to ~0.9 Gt CO₂/yr during 2021–25, with deforestation emissions dropping. India contributes significantly.
  • Government of India’s Initiatives:
    • Budget 2025–26 for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) allocated ₹3,412.82 crore, an increase of 9% over the previous year’s estimate.
    • National Mission for a Green India (GIM): Launched Feb 2014 under the NAPCC, it aims to expand forest/tree cover by 5 million ha + improve quality on another 5 million ha; links ecosystem services with livelihoods (~3 million forest-dependent families).
    • National Afforestation Programme: Targets regeneration of degraded forest/non‐forest lands via institutional setup such as  State Forest Development Agency (SFDA), Forest Development Agency (FDA) and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs).
    • Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): Portals like “MeriLiFE”, initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (tree-planting linked to mother/motherland) to promote citizen/social action for sustainable living.