The Global Forest Resources Assessment(GFRA)-2025 unveiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) on October 21, Tuesday during the Global Forest Observations Initiative(GFOI) Plenary in Bali, Indonesia, published every five years.  India has achieved major progress in forest conservation and climate action, moving up to 9th place globally in total forest area and retaining its 3rd position in annual net forest area gain. The report also ranks India 5th among the world’s top carbon sink nations, with its forests removing 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually during 2021–2025.

The FAO was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy, has 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union.  It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to end hunger and improve nutrition, works to achieve food security for all, ensure people have regular access to enough high-quality food, and promote sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, has an extensive network of regional, sub regional, and country offices worldwide. The FAO emphasizes that forests are essential for food security, local livelihoods, and the supply of renewable biomaterials and liveliness. They serve as habitats for a significant share of global biodiversity, help regulate carbon and water cycles, and can reduce the risks and impacts of drought, floods, desertification, soil erosion, landslides etc.

Global Forest Resources Assessment report is an essential resource for understanding long-term trends in forest resources and how they relate to global goals and targets including those on biodiversity, climate and sustainable land use. With its transparent methodology and broad scope, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 is the only worldwide assessment based on official national data. It is, therefore, the most trustworthy global supply of data for policymakers, foresters, researchers and anyone wanting to know the past, present and future.

The FAO report credits India’s systematic afforestation, reforestation, and conservation initiatives for its impressive gains. India’s total forest area stands at 72.7 million hectares, representing about 2% of the global total of 4.14 billion hectares, which covers 32% of the Earth’s land surface.Globally, Europe holds the largest share of forest area, while South America has the highest proportion of land under forest cover. More than half of the world’s forests are concentrated in Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and China.

India’s forests sequestered an estimated 150 million tonnes of CO₂ annually between 2021 and 2025, ranking 5th globally in carbon removal. Worldwide, forests acted as a net carbon sink, removing about 3.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ each year.In Asia, led by India and China, forest carbon removals reached 0.9 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, with a sharp reduction in deforestation-related emissions. Global forest loss has also declined—from 10.7 million hectares per year in the 1990s to just over 4 million hectares between 2015 and 2025.

India’s leadership in planted forests and agroforestry is another highlight. India accounts for 11.8 million hectares of bamboo forests, about 40% of the global total.It ranks 5th globally in rubber plantations with 831,000 hectares.India and Indonesia together contribute nearly 70% of the global agroforestry area, totaling 55.4 million hectares.These initiatives have supported rural livelihoods, enhanced biodiversity, and strengthened carbon sequestration.Government schemes such as the National Mission for a Green India (GIM) and the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) have been pivotal in expanding India’s forest cover. Under GIM, India aims to increase forest and tree cover by five million hectares and improve quality over another five million hectares.

In the 2025–26 Budget, Rs. 3,412.82 crore has been allocated to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, marking a 9% annual increase. Initiatives like Mission LiFE and “Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam” are fostering citizen participation and sustainable lifestyles.India’s consistent rise in global forest rankings reflects the effectiveness of its environmental policies and its growing leadership in global climate stewardship.Although deforestation has fallen to 10.9 million hectares per year between 2015 and 2025, compared to 17.6 million recorded between 1990 and 2000, the current rate remains excessively high, according to a new report. The assessment highlights positive developments such as the expansion of long-term management plans and protected areas.In addition to the slowdown in deforestation rates, the assessment notes other encouraging signs for the world’s forests. More than half of global forests are now covered by long-term management plans, and one-fifth of forests are within legally established protected areas.

The report indicates that net forest loss has also decreased. The annual rate dropped from 10.7 million hectares in the 1990s to 4.12 million hectares in the past decade. However, forest expansion has also slowed, declining from 9.88 million hectares annually between 2000 and 2015 to 6.78 million between 2015 and 2025.Naturally regenerating forests—which account for 92% of total forest area—have decreased by 324 million hectares between 1990 and 2025. The most significant declines in the past decade occurred in Africa and South America, while Europe reported an increase in this type of forest cover.

The FAO also warned that fires affect an average of 261 million hectares of land each year, nearly half of which are forests. In 2020, insects, diseases, and adverse weather conditions damaged approximately 41 million hectares of forest, mainly in temperate and boreal regions.

Considering multiple perspectives, India had launched several national policies, schemes, and programs to increase forest cover and enhance carbon storage, balancing conservation with sustainable development. The country has committed to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 through expanded forest and tree cover.

Major initiativesimplemented by Indiaare National Mission for a Green India (GIM); as one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), GIM seeks to protect, restore, and enhance India's forest and tree cover. The major initiatives include  expand forest and tree cover by 10 million hectares, improve ecosystem services like carbon storage and water management, and increase forest-based income for 3 million households that emphasizes community involvement.

National Agroforestry Policy introduced in 2014, this policy promotes tree plantation on farmlands to enhance agricultural productivity and create a resilient and diversified ecosystem. It provides financial support for establishing nurseries and research projects.

Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) launched in 2020, this scheme aims to create green spaces, or "Nagar Vans" and "Nagar Vatikas," in urban and peri-urban areas. It seeks to increase urban green cover, conserve biodiversity, and improve the quality of life for city dwellers.

Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI); an initiative, launched in 2023, focuses on restoring and promoting mangroves along India's coastline. Mangroves are crucial for enhancing coastal habitats and storing "blue carbon".

For proper implementation and progress of various policies financial and legal mechanisms were also undertaken. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA), when forest land is diverted for development projects, the user agency is required to pay a compensatory levy. These funds are managed by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) at both national and state levels to finance afforestation and reforestation activities.

Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FFPM), this centrally-sponsored scheme provides financial and technical support to states for preventing and controlling forest fires. Fires can significantly release stored carbon, so effective prevention is vital for carbon storage.

Green Credit Program is also an initiative promotes sustainable environmental practices by incentivizing afforestation and carbon sequestration. It is a market-based mechanism that rewards organizations for ecological contributions.

Some community and participatory approaches such as Joint Forest Management (JFM), an initiated in the 1990s, JFM empowers local communities, through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), to participate in the protection, management, and regeneration of forest resources alongside forest departments.

By enforcing the initiative "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" Campaignencourages large-scale tree planting by connecting the emotional value of planting a tree with love for one's mother or motherland.

Monitoring and international commitments India State of Forest Report (ISFR) published biennially by the Forest Survey of India, the ISFR assesses the country's forest and tree cover, providing vital data for monitoring progress toward national and international goals. The latest report notes a steady increase in forest cover.

International Pledges like Bonn Challenge; India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Paris Agreement: India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) includes achieving an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030. India participates in the United Nations Forum on Forests(UNFF) reporting on its progress and supporting sustainable forestry globally.

The highlights of GFRA 2025 underscore India's significant progress in environmental conservation, with the country ranking 9th in forest cover and 5th in carbon storage. These achievements reflect India's commitment to sustainable development and its growing role in global climate action. Continued efforts in forest preservation and carbon sequestration are essential for ensuring a healthier environment and a resilient future.