News: Recently, the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 was released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Bali.
About Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025
- Released by: Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations
- Aim: To provide reliable data on forest area, condition, management, and use to guide global forest policy, sustainable management, and conservation efforts.
- It evaluates the status and trends of the world’s forests.
Key Findings
- Over 90 percent of the world’s forests are naturally regenerating.
- The global rate of deforestation continues to decline.
- The net loss of forest area has dropped by more than half compared to the 1990s.
- Forests span more than 4 billion hectares worldwide, with nearly half located in tropical regions.
- Naturally regenerating forests occupy 3.83 billion hectares, accounting for about 92% of the total global forest area.
- Primary forests constitute nearly one-third of the total global forest area.
- The rate of expansion of planted forest areas has slowed down globally.
- The world’s total forest growing stock, biomass, and carbon reserves have shown an overall increase.
Key Findings related to India
- India’s Global Ranking: India has climbed to the 9th position globally in total forest area, improving from the 10th position in the previous assessment. This reflects India’s consistent efforts in afforestation and sustainable forest management.
- Annual Forest Area Gain: India has retained its 3rd position worldwide in annual forest area gain, demonstrating the country’s steady progress in expanding green cover.
- Government Initiatives Recognized: The improvement in ranking is attributed to several national initiatives and programmes focused on forest protection, afforestation, and community participation.
- Key Contributing Campaigns: The “Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam” campaign has played a major role by inspiring citizens across India to actively participate in tree plantation and conservation efforts.
- Community Participation: The GFRA 2025 acknowledges growing public involvement in forest conservation, emphasizing that people’s participation is crucial for achieving a greener and more sustainable future.
- The improved ranking reinforces India’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-13 and SDG-15) related to climate action and life on land. It also strengthens India’s position as a global leader in sustainable forest management and climate resilience.
