India Secures Third Place in Global Forest Area Expansion: FAO Report

India has added 2,66,000 hectares of forest area each year from 2010 to 2020, placing it third among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains, as per a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The report, released on Monday, highlighted that China led with an increase of 1,937,000 hectares, followed by Australia with 4,46,000 hectares.

Global Forest Gains

Other nations in the top 10 include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy, and Romania. The FAO commended India for its initiatives in restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry through innovative methods. This includes a new national policy aimed at better supporting agroforestry in India.

The FAO report also noted a significant reduction in deforestation rates in some countries. For instance, Indonesia saw an 8.4 per cent decline in deforestation from 2021 to 2022. Similarly, Brazil's Amazon experienced a 50 per cent reduction in deforestation in 2023.

Impact of Climate Change

The report stressed that climate change is increasing forests' vulnerability to various stressors like wildfires and pests. Wildfire intensity and frequency are rising. Boreal forests accounted for nearly one-quarter of carbon dioxide emissions due to wildfires in 2021.

In 2023, wildfires emitted an estimated 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally. This figure is more than double the carbon dioxide emissions from the European Union due to fossil fuel burning that year. The FAO highlighted that wildfire emissions are a growing concern.

Reduction in Mangrove Loss

The FAO report also mentioned that the rate of gross global mangrove loss decreased by 23 per cent between the periods from 2000 to 2010 and 2010 to 2020. This reduction is seen as a positive development for coastal ecosystems.

In the United States, forestlands are expected to face significant losses due to insects and disease. By 2027, about 25 million hectares of forestlands are projected to experience losses exceeding 20 per cent of host tree basal area due to these factors.

The FAO's findings underscore the importance of continued efforts in forest conservation and restoration globally.