Forest cover increase – India ranks 9th globally
- This information has been released according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
- India’s total forest cover has increased to 9th globally. Moreover, India has consistently maintained the 3rd position in the annual increase in forest cover.
- According to the report, the total forest cover of the world is 4.14 billion hectares. Of this, only five countries – Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China – have more than half of the forest cover (54 percent).
- India ranks 9th, following Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia.
- India ranks third in the annual increase in forest cover between 2015 and 2025, with 1.91 lakh hectares.
Asia’s key role
- The report also highlighted that the Asian continent’s forest cover is playing a key role in reducing global deforestation.
- Asia is the only region to have recorded an increase in forest cover during the period 1990-2025.
- Coastal Green Wall
- A large green wall will be built in Andhra Pradesh to protect the coastline from degradation.
- With Andhra Pradesh’s 1,053 km long coastline facing increasing threats to livelihoods and property loss, the government has decided to build a five km wide ‘Andhra Pradesh Great Green Wall’ by 2030.
- According to official sources, the wall will be designed to protect over three million people by serving as a “living ecological shield” while promoting biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable development.
