Last Updated on September 25, 2025 11:36 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
R. Suryamurthy
India’s forest cover expanded by more than 17,000 sq km over the past decade, driven by conservation and regeneration efforts, according to a government report released on Thursday.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) unveiled its first dedicated “Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025” report at the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organisations in Chandigarh. The publication, aligned with the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) framework, offers a comprehensive national and state-level assessment of forest assets, condition, and ecosystem services.
The two-volume study draws on the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), forestry statistics, and international accounting standards. Volume I covers methodology and national-level indicators, while Volume II provides state and Union Territory data, including decadal changes.
Forest Assets
Between 2010-11 and 2021-22, India’s forest cover grew by 17,444 sq km, or 22.5%, to reach 715,000 sq km – about 21.8% of the country’s land area. Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu recorded the largest increases.
Extent and Condition
Forest extent rose by 3,356 sq km between 2013 and 2023, aided by reclassification and boundary adjustments. Uttarakhand, Odisha and Jharkhand saw the sharpest gains in recorded forest area.
The stock of usable wood in living trees, a key indicator of forest health, increased by 305.5 million cubic metres, or 7.3%, in the same period. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana led the gains, while the Andaman & Nicobar Islands recorded the highest increase among Union Territories.
Ecosystem Services
The value of provisioning services such as timber and non-timber products rose to ₹37,930 crore in 2021-22 from ₹30,720 crore a decade earlier, equivalent to 0.16% of GDP. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala were the top contributors.
Carbon retention services – critical for climate change mitigation – climbed 52% between 2015-16 and 2021-22, valued at ₹620,970 crore or 2.63% of GDP. Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Assam accounted for the largest share.
The ministry said the new accounting framework is designed to help policymakers balance economic development with conservation targets, adding that the data would feed into national climate and biodiversity strategies.