India Climbs in Global Forest Area
India has achieved a momentous environmental milestone on the global stage. It is solidifying its position as a leading nation in conservation efforts. The Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 was recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bali. According to this report, India has advanced its ranking. The country is now at the 9th position worldwide in terms of total forest area. This represents a significant upward movement from the 10th rank held in the previous global assessment.
India’s Steady Progress in Conservation
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, communicated the uplifting news. He shared the development via a social media post on ‘X’ on October 22, 2025.:
“Here is a reason to rejoice for all Indians. We have achieved 9th rank in terms of forest area at the global level as compared to 10th spot in the previous assessment. We have also maintained our 3rd position globally in terms of annual gain.”
Minister Yadav attributed this commendable progress in India’s global forest area to the sustained success of the various policies and extensive programmes implemented by the Government of India, operating under the determined leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. These initiatives are specifically designed for robust forest protection, large-scale afforestation, and, critically, promoting community-led environmental action. This multi-pronged approach has yielded tangible results visible in the FAO’s latest global data.
Furthermore, the Minister pointed to the growing public enthusiasm, inspired by the Prime Minister’s poignant call for ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ (One tree in the name of the Mother) and his continuous emphasis on environmental consciousness. This has spurred a significant increase in active public participation in tree plantation and protection efforts across the nation, fostering a powerful sense of collective responsibility for a greener and sustainable future.
The global forest area achievement, therefore, is a culmination of strategic planning and policies at the Central Government level for the enhancement of forest cover, complemented by massive plantation drives carried out collaboratively by various State Governments. The FAO’s GFRA 2025 data officially validates the efficacy of India’s decades-long conservation strategy. It positions the country as a major global player in forest preservation and growth.
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