India Ranks 3rd in the Global Forest Area Gains: FAO Report

India has made significant forest area gains, adding 266,000 hectares annually from 2010 to 2020. The country ranks third among the top ten countries for forest area gains, with China and Australia following closely behind.

India's Forest Area Gains

India added 266,000 hectares of forest area annually from 2010 to 2020.
India ranked third among the top ten countries for forest area gains.
China topped the list with 1,937,000 hectares, followed by Australia with 446,000 hectares.
Other countries in the top ten include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy, and Romania.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) commended India for its initiatives.
India's efforts focused on restoring degraded lands and promoting agroforestry.
New national policy implemented to enhance agroforestry support.

List of top 10 counties Forest Area Gain

Rank	Country	Forest Area gain
1	China	(1,937,000 hectares annually)
2	Australia	(446,000 hectares annually)
3	India	(266,000 hectares annually)
4	Chile	(149,000 hectares annually)
5	Vietnam	(126,000 hectares annually)
6	Turkey	(114,000 hectares annually)
7	United States	(108,000 hectares annually)
8	France	(83,000 hectares annually)
9	Italy	(54,000 hectares annually)
10	Romania	(41,000 hectares annually)

Global Deforestation Trends and Climate Impact

Significant reduction in deforestation rates observed in several countries.
Indonesia experienced an 8.4% decline in deforestation from 2021 to 2022.
Brazil's Amazon saw a 50% reduction in deforestation in 2023.
Climate change increasing forest vulnerability to threats like wildfires and pests.
Boreal forests accounted for nearly one-quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from wildfires in 2021.
Global wildfires in 2023 emitted an estimated 6,687 megatons of carbon dioxide.
This figure is more than double the carbon dioxide emissions from the European Union's fossil fuel burning that year.

About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

FAO established in 1945 with 194 member countries and the European Union.
Headquarters located in Rome, Italy.
Specialized UN agency dedicated to defeating hunger and improving nutrition and food security.
Leads international efforts towards the "Zero Hunger" goal.
Hosts the Codex Alimentarius Commission for setting international food standards.
Monitors food security and agricultural sustainability globally.
Provides critical data and analysis for informed policy-making.
Supports rural development through projects in over 130 countries.
Focus areas include improving crop production, livestock management, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Aims to boost productivity, increase resilience to climate change, and improve livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

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