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Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
India's green cover grew to 25.17% of geographical area: Report
India has reported that its forest and tree cover now encompasses 25.17% of its geographical area at the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), while highlighting several national conservation initiatives, the environment ministry said on Friday. The statistic, part of the latest State of Forest report, was presented at the UNFF being held at the UN Headquarters in New York from May 5 to 9, where India detailed a 'consistent increase' in forest and tree cover resulting from key programmes. These initiatives include 'restoration of land under the Aravalli Green Wall, a 7.86% increase in mangrove cover over the past decade, afforestation of over 1.55 lakh hectares under the Green India Mission, and plantation of 1.4 billion seedlings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother) campaign,' the ministry statement noted. India also participated in a high-level panel on 'Valuing Forest Ecosystems in National Policy and Strategy,' sharing findings from pilot studies conducted in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and tiger reserves across the country. These studies quantified ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water provisioning, and biodiversity conservation, using frameworks including the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). While acknowledging challenges in valuing non-market services, India emphasised the need to integrate ecosystem valuation into national planning processes to ensure informed forest governance and long-term ecological sustainability. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023 released by the Union Environment Ministry in December last year, the country's forest and tree cover spans 8,27,357 sq km. This includes 21.76% forest cover and 3.41% tree cover. The report shows an increase of 1,445 sq km in total green cover since 2021—an area comparable to Delhi. However, the release of the State of Forest report by the Forest Survey of India has been delayed by more than a year, despite being scheduled biennially. The previous report was published in 2021. HT reported on December 24 that despite headline growth in green cover, the ISFR 2023 highlights concerning trends, including the degradation of large forest tracts, increased plantations, and ambiguity regarding 'unclassed forests.' Experts warn these developments could seriously impact biodiversity, forest-dependent communities, and ecosystem services provided by old-growth forests. Regarding the latest figures, experts said that the methodology has several problems. 'The methodology has several concerns that are problematic. The assessment of forest cover is flawed considering that even plantations and orchards and trees such as Mango and Coconut are counted under forest and tree cover. Moreover, the report has highlighted loss of unclassed forests to the tune of 1488 sq Kms between ISFR 2021 and 2023; large scale loss of forests in high altitude areas and degradation of forests by 92,989 sq km as reported in the ISFR 2023 besides non-compliance of crucial Supreme Court directives. This points to a reduction and degradation of forest cover and not an increase. We need a scientific and factual interpretation of the latest state of forest report and not a feel-good conclusion,' said Prakriti Srivastava, retired IFS and former principal chief conservator of forests, Kerala. The report revealed that 40,709.28 sq km of forest area degraded between 2011 and 2021, transitioning from very dense and moderately dense to open forests. The UNFF, which has evolved over two decades into a central actor in global forest policy, spearheads consensus on forest-related issues by adopting frameworks such as the UN Forest Instrument, the Global Forest Goals, and the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030. This Strategic Plan established six voluntary Global Forest Goals, including reversing deforestation, increasing forest area by 3% worldwide, and maintaining or enhancing the world's forest carbon stocks. The ongoing UNFF20 technical session focuses on three specific Global Forest Goals: reversing forest cover loss, increasing protected and sustainably managed forests, and promoting forest governance and legal frameworks.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
India's forest, tree cover at 25.17% due to large scale plantation works: Govt to UN
The forest and tree cover of India is now 25.17% of its geographical area because of key national initiatives, the latest India State of Forest Report told the United Nations Forum on Forests at the UN headquarters in New York from May 5-9. 'India reported a consistent increase in forest and tree cover, now encompassing 25.17% of its geographical area as per the latest India State of Forest Report as a result of key national initiatives like the restoration of land under the Aravalli Green Wall, a 7.86% increase in mangrove cover over the past decade, afforestation of over 1.55 lakh hectares under the Green India Mission, and plantation of 1.4 billion seedlings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother) campaign,' the environment ministry said on Friday. India also joined a high-level panel on 'Valuing Forest Ecosystems in National Policy and Strategy' at the UN, where it shared findings from pilot studies in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan, and tiger reserves. These studies quantified ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water provisioning, and biodiversity conservation using frameworks such as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). While acknowledging challenges in valuing non-market services, India emphasised the need to integrate ecosystem valuation into national planning for informed forest governance and long-term ecological sustainability. India's forest and tree cover encompasses 8,27,357 sqkm — 25.17% of the country's geographical area — as of 2023, according to the India State of Forest Report released by the Union environment ministry in December last year. Of this, around 21.76% is forest cover whereas tree cover is around 3.41%. The last such report, which is supposed to be released biennially, came out in 2021. Compared to 2021, there is an increase of 1445 sqkm — an area as large as Delhi — in the total forest and tree cover of the country, the report said. HT reported on December 24 that the country's green cover may be increasing according to the headline findings of the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, but the study also addressed the degradation of large tracts of forestland, increase in plantations and lack of clarity in status of so-called unclassed forests — all of which could have serious impacts on biodiversity, people dependent on forests and ecosystem services provided by old-growth forests, experts said. According to the report released on Saturday, 40,709.28 sqkm of land has degraded between 2011 and 2021, from very dense and moderately dense to open forests.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Expanding tree cover is crucial
As climate change accelerates, tree plantation and carbon sequestration are essential for environmental sustainability. For India, a rapidly growing economy reliant on carbon-intensive industries, expanding tree cover is crucial for mitigating climate change while supporting industrial growth and rural livelihoods. India's forest and tree cover is 25.17%, significantly below the 33% target set by the National Forest Policy of 1988. This shortfall has serious implications, as deforestation, rapid urbanisation, and industrial emissions continue to degrade ecosystems. Accelerating afforestation Tree plantations act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, in India, this sequestration potential needs to be enhanced through large-scale afforestation programmes. Beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increased tree cover improves soil health, recharges groundwater, retains water, reduces soil erosion, and enhances resilience against extreme weather events. Recognising this, India has introduced several policies and initiatives to accelerate afforestation efforts. The National Agroforestry Policy (2014) and the Trees Outside Forests in India Program encourage private landowners, farmers, and industries to participate in large-scale tree planting. They aim to reduce dependence on natural forests for timber and fuelwood, restore degraded ecosystems, and provide additional income sources for rural communities. The Green India Mission, part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, has been instrumental in reviving degraded forests and promoting sustainable forest management. According to government data, GIM has helped increase forest cover by 0.56% between 2017 and 2021. Corporate social responsibility initiatives have also contributed to large-scale tree plantation drives. Companies in sectors such as automobile manufacturing, cement, and energy have undertaken afforestation projects to offset emissions. Many corporations are also integrating afforestation efforts into their carbon credit strategies, allowing them to claim emission reductions while restoring ecosystems. Indian industries face growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint due to stringent international regulations. The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, set to be enforced in 2026, will impose tariffs on carbon-intensive imports such as steel, cement, and aluminium. As trade between India and the EU reached €124 billion in 2023, these tariffs could greatly impact Indian exporters. To remain competitive in global markets, industries are increasingly investing in carbon-offset projects, including large-scale tree plantations. Such investments help companies align with global sustainability standards, earn carbon credits under frameworks such as the Verified Carbon Standard and Clean Development Mechanism, and offset emissions in a cost-effective manner instead of purchasing expensive international carbon credits. Sustainability is no longer about regulatory compliance — it has become a strategic advantage. Companies are integrating sustainability into their operations by developing green supply chains, sourcing raw materials from sustainable forestry projects, and implementing energy-efficient manufacturing processes. With global capital markets increasingly favouring environmental, social, and governance principles, Indian industries must adapt to maintain their market position. Tree plantations also offer economic and social benefits. Large-scale afforestation initiatives create millions of jobs, especially in nursery management, forest conservation, and agroforestry. These are particularly vital for rural communities. Agroforestry, which integrates trees into agricultural systems, is a particularly promising approach. It enhances soil fertility by improving nutrient cycling, provides additional income from timber, fruits, and medicinal plants, and increases resilience to droughts and erratic weather conditions. A study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research found that agroforestry can increase farm incomes by 20-30%. To support community-led afforestation, government and non-governmental organisations have stepped in to provide financial incentives, training and capacity-building programmes to educate farmers and rural workers, and market linkages to help communities sell forest-based products. These foster a sense of responsibility and ownership. Policy recommendations Despite its benefits, large-scale tree plantation faces several challenges. One is the rising cost of carbon credits. In 2023, the average price of carbon credits under the EU Emissions Trading System was €83 per tonne of CO₂ . For Indian businesses, investing in afforestation offers a more cost-effective solution than purchasing expensive carbon credits from international markets. Another challenge is the absence of a robust carbon trading policy in India. To fully capitalise on global carbon markets, India must establish a transparent national carbon credit registry, a well-defined regulatory framework under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and financial incentives to encourage private-sector investments in afforestation. As India strives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, tree plantations and carbon sequestration will be key pillars of its sustainability strategy. The risks of inaction are too high. B.B.L. Madhukar, Chairman, FORE School of Management, and Director General, BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry
