Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
- •Syllabus: Ecology*
- •Source: FAO*
Context: India has climbed to the 9th position globally in total forest area and continues to rank 3rd in annual forest gain, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 released by the FAO in Bali.
About Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025:
• What is GFRA? The GFRA is a comprehensive global evaluation of forest resources, assessing their extent, management, and uses across 236 countries. It provides periodic updates on global forest conditions and trends every five years.
• The GFRA is a comprehensive global evaluation of forest resources, assessing their extent, management, and uses across 236 countries. It provides periodic updates on global forest conditions and trends every five years.
• Published by: Conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• History:
• Initiated in 1946, the FRA has evolved into a collaborative, data-driven platform, integrating remote sensing, national reporting, and statistical modelling.
• The 2025 edition marks 80 years of continuous forest resource monitoring
Key Summary of GFRA 2025:
• Global Forest Extent: Forests now cover 4.14 billion hectares, with tropical zones (45%) leading, reflecting both rich biodiversity and intense deforestation pressures in these regions.
• Top 5 Countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, and China together hold over half of global forest cover, showing how few nations dominate the planet’s forest resources.
• Deforestation Decline: Annual global deforestation slowed to 10.9 million ha (2015–2025) due to improved monitoring, policy reforms, and afforestation in Asia and South America.
• Forest Gain: The world added 6.78 million ha of forests annually, driven mainly by restoration efforts in Asia and Europe, showcasing positive ecological recovery trends.
• Planted Forests: 8% of total forests are planted, with Asia contributing 23%, reflecting deliberate human-led afforestation and carbon sequestration programs.
• Protected Areas: About 813 million ha (20%) of forests now enjoy legal protection—an addition of 250 million ha since 1990—boosting ecosystem and species security.
• Carbon Stock: Forests store 714 Gt of carbon, with nearly 46% in soil and 44% in biomass, making them vital buffers against global climate change.
• Ownership Pattern: Around 71% of forests are publicly owned, while 24% belong to private or community holders, underscoring the growing role of inclusive management.
India and GFRA 2025:
• Global Ranking: India rose to 9th in total forest area and remains 3rd in forest gain, highlighting its consistent policy-driven greening success.
• Forest Cover Expansion: Initiatives like the Green India Mission, CAMPA, and NAP have expanded forest area through restoration and compensatory afforestation.
• Community Involvement: Programs like Van Dhan Yojana and Joint Forest Management empower communities in forest upkeep and livelihood generation.
• Sustainable Management: Integrating biodiversity corridors, mangrove conservation, and carbon sinks supports India’s Paris Agreement and NDC goals.
• Technological Role: Platforms like Bhuvan and AI-based forest mapping improve data precision and enhance transparent forest governance nationwide.
Challenges Highlighted:
• Deforestation Hotspots: Rapid land-use conversion for agriculture and mining continues to endanger tropical forest ecosystems.
• Forest Degradation: Wildfires, pests, and climate stress are accelerating forest decline despite net area gains.
• Funding Gaps: Long-term ecological restoration suffers due to limited financial and institutional support.
• Data Disparity: Uneven national reporting systems hinder accurate global forest trend assessments.
• Biodiversity Loss: Habitat fragmentation persists, threatening species even in countries with increasing forest area.
Recommendations Ahead:
• Community Forestry: Empower local communities through joint forest governance and sustainable livelihood integration.
• Carbon Accounting: Deploy AI and satellite tools for better forest carbon quantification and emissions tracking.
• South–South Cooperation: Strengthen knowledge exchange among tropical nations for collective forest restoration.
• Eco-tourism: Promote nature-based tourism to generate revenue and incentivise local conservation.
• Policy and Finance: Establish robust legal frameworks and cross-country funding mechanisms under FAO’s guidance.
Conclusion:
India’s rise in global forest rankings underscores its ecological resilience and policy commitment to sustainability. However, global forest goals still demand collective restoration, precision data, and equitable finance. The GFRA 2025 thus serves as both a warning and a roadmap for achieving a greener planet.