India Climbs to 9th Globally in Forest Area

India Climbs to 9th Globally in Forest Area: A Growing Green Success Story 

At a time when the world is losing forests faster than ever, India has delivered some refreshing good news. According to the UN’s Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA) 2025, India has risen to 9th place globally in total forest area and continues to hold the 3rd spot when it comes to adding new forests every year.

With 72.74 million hectares of forests, India now accounts for around 2% of the world’s total forest cover, an impressive achievement for a densely populated and ever-developing nation.

A Decade of Growth and Action

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav credited this consistent progress to strong conservation policies and massive government-backed afforestation drives, especially over the last decade. From urban plantation projects to community-led green missions, India is proving that development and ecology can go hand in hand.

Between 2015 and 2025, India added 191,000 hectares of forest every year, making it one of the top three contributors globally, behind only:

• China
• Russia

This shows that India isn’t just protecting what it has, it’s actively growing greener.

But The World Is Losing Green Faster Than It Gains

The same report also issues a warning:
Global annual forest loss has risen to 4.12 million hectares per year
Afforestation efforts have slowed down in major economies like the US, Canada, and China

So while India’s progress is worth celebrating, the global picture is worrying.

What This Means for Our Future

India’s achievement is more than a statistic, it’s hope.
It tells a story of communities planting saplings, governments pushing green policies, and citizens slowly reconnecting with nature.

The road ahead is long. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and land stress remain major challenges. But with continued effort, India can lead by example, showing that protecting forests is not just a responsibility… It’s a tribute to future generations.