India Forest Accounting Report 2025 released by MoSPI provides detailed forest cover, carbon retention, and ecosystem services data. Key insights for UPSC, PSCs, banking, and government exam preparation.
🌲 MoSPI Releases First Forest-Focused Environmental Accounting Report
On September 25, 2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) unveiled the inaugural “Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025” report during the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) in Chandigarh. This comprehensive publication marks India’s first dedicated forest accounting initiative, aligning with the United Nations’ System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework. The report offers a detailed assessment of India’s forest resources, encompassing physical, monetary, and ecosystem service values, and spans data from 2010–11 to 2021–22.
📈 Forest Cover and Physical Asset Account
Between 2010–11 and 2021–22, India’s forest cover expanded by 17,444.61 square kilometers, representing a 22.5% increase. This growth brings the total forest area to 715,000 square kilometers, accounting for 21.76% of the nation’s land area. Kerala led with the highest increase of 4,137 square kilometers, followed by Karnataka (3,122 sq km) and Tamil Nadu (2,606 sq km). This expansion is attributed to effective reforestation, afforestation, and improved forest management practices.
🗺️ Extent Account: Forest Area Adjustments
Between 2013 and 2023, India experienced a net increase of 3,356 square kilometers in forest extent. This growth was primarily due to reclassification and boundary updates rather than new afforestation efforts. Notable gains in Recorded Forest Area (RFA) were observed in Uttarakhand (+6.3%), Odisha (+1.97%), and Jharkhand (+1.9%), reflecting enhanced mapping and data collection by state forest departments.
🌳 Condition Account: Growth in Forest Stock
The growing stock, representing the volume of usable wood in living trees, increased by 305.53 million cubic meters (7.32%) from 2013 to 2023. Madhya Pradesh contributed the most with 136 million cubic meters, followed by Chhattisgarh (51 million), Telangana (28 million), and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (77 million). This growth indicates sustainable forest management practices and enhanced biomass productivity in these regions.
📊 Services Account: Valuation of Forest Contributions
Provisioning Services: Timber and Non-Timber Products
The total value of provisioning services, including timber, medicinal plants, fruits, and bamboo, rose from ₹30,720 crore in 2011–12 to ₹37,930 crore in 2021–22, constituting 0.16% of India’s GDP. Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala were the leading contributors, with values of ₹23,780 crore, ₹14,150 crore, and ₹8,550 crore, respectively.
Regulating Services: Carbon Retention and Climate Impact
The carbon retention value of forests surged by 51.82%, from ₹409,100 crore in 2015–16 to ₹620,970 crore in 2021–22, now representing 2.63% of India’s GDP. Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam emerged as the top contributors, with values of ₹296,000 crore, ₹156,600 crore, and ₹129,960 crore, respectively. This underscores the critical role of forests in climate change mitigation and India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
📚 State-Level Trends and Research Insights
Volume II of the report provides decadal data at the state and Union Territory levels, focusing on trends in forest asset changes, ecosystem health, and contributions to provisioning and regulating services. It also includes a literature review of regional studies and valuation models, enhancing understanding of state-specific ecosystem services and facilitating the integration of forests into state GDP calculations.
🔍 Why This News is Important
📊 India’s Forest Accounting Milestone
The release of the “Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025” report signifies a major step in India’s environmental governance. By adopting the SEEA framework, India aligns with international standards, enabling a comprehensive assessment of its forest resources. This initiative provides policymakers with accurate data to formulate informed strategies for forest conservation and sustainable management.
🌱 Reflecting Forest Conservation Efforts
The report highlights a 22.5% increase in forest cover over a decade, indicating the success of reforestation and afforestation programs. The significant rise in ‘very dense forest’ areas by 22.7% further emphasizes the effectiveness of conservation efforts in enhancing forest quality.
💰 Economic Valuation of Forest Services
By assigning monetary values to forest services, the report underscores the economic importance of forests. The substantial increase in carbon retention value, amounting to 2.63% of India’s GDP, highlights forests’ critical role in climate regulation and their contribution to the national economy.
📍 State-Level Insights for Targeted Actions
The state-specific data provided in the report allows for a nuanced understanding of regional forest dynamics. This information is crucial for tailoring conservation and development policies to address local challenges and opportunities effectively.
📚 Implications for Competitive Examinations
For students preparing for government exams, this report offers valuable insights into environmental economics and forest management. Understanding the SEEA framework and India’s forest accounting practices can enhance knowledge in subjects related to geography, environment, and economics.
🕰️ Historical Context
🌳 Evolution of Forest Accounting in India
India’s journey towards forest accounting began with the adoption of the SEEA framework in 2018. This initiative aimed to integrate environmental assets into national economic accounts, providing a holistic view of the economy-environment nexus. The “Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025” report is the culmination of years of data collection and analysis, reflecting India’s commitment to sustainable development.
📈 Progress in Forest Conservation
Over the past decade, India has implemented various policies and programs to enhance forest cover and quality. The increase in forest cover and the growth in ‘very dense forest’ areas are testament to the success of these initiatives. However, challenges remain, as indicated by the decline in ‘moderately dense forest’ areas, necessitating continued efforts in forest conservation.
✅ Key Takeaways from “MoSPI’s Forest Accounting Report”
| No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1. | India’s forest cover increased by 17,444.61 sq. km (22.5%) from 2010–11 to 2021–22. |
| 2. | The ‘very dense forest’ category grew by 22.7%, indicating successful conservation efforts. |
| 3. | Carbon retention value of forests rose by 51.82%, now representing 2.63% of India’s GDP. |
| 4. | State-specific data provides insights for targeted forest management strategies. |
| 5. | The report aligns with the UN SEEA framework, enhancing India’s environmental accounting practices. |
FAQs: Forest-Focused Environmental Accounting Report 2025
1. What is the MoSPI Forest-Focused Environmental Accounting Report 2025?
The report is India’s first dedicated forest accounting initiative released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It provides detailed data on forest cover, ecosystem services, and monetary valuation of forests from 2010–11 to 2021–22 using the UN SEEA framework.
2. Which framework is used in the report for environmental accounting?
The report follows the United Nations’ System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), which integrates environmental assets with national economic accounts.
3. How much has India’s forest cover increased according to the report?
India’s forest cover increased by 17,444.61 square kilometers, a 22.5% growth, reaching a total area of 715,000 square kilometers (21.76% of total land).
4. Which states showed the highest forest growth in the last decade?
Kerala (4,137 sq km), Karnataka (3,122 sq km), and Tamil Nadu (2,606 sq km) led in forest cover expansion.
5. What is the value of forest carbon retention in India?
The carbon retention value of forests increased by 51.82%, from ₹409,100 crore in 2015–16 to ₹620,970 crore in 2021–22, representing 2.63% of India’s GDP.
6. Why is this report important for government exams?
It provides insights into forest management, environmental economics, and state-level conservation data, which are relevant for exams like UPSC, PSCs, banking, defence, and teaching positions with environment-related questions.
7. What are the key forest services mentioned in the report?
The report includes provisioning services (timber, fruits, medicinal plants, bamboo) and regulating services (carbon retention and climate mitigation).
8. Which states contributed most to carbon retention?
Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam are the top contributors to carbon retention value.
9. What historical context does the report provide?
It reflects India’s adoption of the SEEA framework since 2018 and its decade-long forest conservation efforts.
10. How can students use this report for exam preparation?
Students can use it to understand forest policies, ecosystem service valuation, and state-specific environmental statistics, which are frequently asked in competitive exams.
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