NEW DELHI: India has achieved a major milestone in global environmental conservation, moving up to the 9th position in the world in terms of total forest area, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bali. The country has also retained its 3rd rank globally in annual forest area gain, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and ecological preservation.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, announced the achievement in a post on X, stating that the improvement from the 10th to the 9th position reflects the success of India’s continued efforts towards afforestation and forest conservation. He added that this progress highlights the strength of the government’s initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has consistently emphasised environmental awareness and public participation in green initiatives.
“The Prime Minister’s call for ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ has become a nationwide movement, inspiring citizens to plant and nurture trees in honour of their mothers. This growing public participation reflects India’s evolving sense of collective responsibility towards a sustainable and greener future,” Yadav said.
India’s sustained progress is attributed to multiple government-led programmes, including the National Afforestation Programme, Green India Mission, and large-scale plantation drives conducted by state governments. These initiatives focus not only on increasing the country’s green cover but also on involving local communities in conservation efforts, ensuring ecological balance and livelihood support.
Environmental experts have hailed the new ranking as a significant step towards India’s global climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. They noted that India’s consistent forest area gain plays a vital role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
The FAO report recognised India’s integrated approach, combining government policy, community participation, and technological monitoring, as a key reason for its upward trajectory in forest conservation metrics.
With this achievement, India reinforces its position as a global leader in environmental stewardship, showcasing how development and sustainability can progress hand in hand.
