India rises to 9th position globally in forest area: FAO report

New Delhi, Oct 22: India has climbed to the 9th position globally in total forest area, marking a major milestone in environmental conservation, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bali.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav shared the development on X, noting that India has moved up from its previous 10th position in the 2020 assessment.

The country has also retained its 3rd position worldwide in annual forest area gain, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and ecological balance.

“The achievement reflects the success of policies and programmes under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focused on forest protection, afforestation, and community-led environmental action,” the Minister said. He highlighted that initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ campaign have inspired people across the nation to actively participate in tree plantation drives, fostering a strong sense of public responsibility towards environmental conservation. The FAO recognition, Yadav said, stands as a testament to the combined efforts of the Central and State Governments in expanding green cover and strengthening India’s commitment to a sustainable future.