New Delhi: India has marked a major milestone in global environmental stewardship, moving up to the 9th position worldwide 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 also continues to hold the 3rd position globally for annual forest area gain, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and ecological restoration. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav shared the achievement on social media platform X, highlighting the success of India’s forest conservation policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the previous GFRA assessment, India was ranked 10th.
The latest jump in ranking reflects the impact of large-scale afforestation drives, community-led environmental initiatives, and policy reforms aimed at forest protection and biodiversity enhancement. The Minister credited the Modi government’s strategic planning and grassroots campaigns such as ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ for inspiring widespread public participation in tree plantation and forest preservation. He emphasized that the collective efforts of citizens, state governments, and environmental agencies have contributed to this global recognition.
India’s consistent rise in forest metrics underscores its role as a key player in global climate action and ecological balance. The achievement is seen as a testament to the country’s integrated approach to environmental sustainability, combining policy innovation with citizen engagement.
