India Ranks Third in Global Forest Area Gains

July 23, 2024

India has made great progress in protecting forests. From 2010 to 2020, 266,000 hectares of new forest will be added each year. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this makes India the third country in the world in terms of forest area growth.

Global Forest Area Gains

China and Australia lead the rankings, having increased their forest areas by 1,937,000 and 446,000 hectares respectively. Other countries in the top ten include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy, and Romania.

India’s Initiatives

When India worked hard to fix up damaged lands and promote agroforestry using new ideas and new national policies meant to support these practices, the FAO praised the country.

Deforestation Trends

The FAO’s study shows that the rate of deforestation has gone down significantly in many parts of the world. In 2023, the rainforests in Indonesia shrank by 8.4%, and the rainforests in Brazil’s Amazon shrank by a shocking 50%. Climate change makes woods more vulnerable to wildfires and pests, even though there are some good signs. A big part of the world’s carbon emissions in 2021 came from boreal woods. In 2023, wildfires are expected to release 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the air.

Mangrove Losses and Forest Health

The amount of gross world mangrove loss went down by 23% between 2000 and 2010 and will continue to go down until 2020. The FAO did say, though, that insects and diseases pose a major threat to U.S. forests, and they expect big losses by 2027.

About the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

Foundation and Membership: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was established in 1945 and comprises 194 member countries along with the European Union. The FAO’s headquarters is located in Rome, Italy. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, it is dedicated to leading international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security worldwide.
Role and Initiatives: FAO plays a key role in combating hunger and improving nutrition through global initiatives such as the “Zero Hunger” goal. The organization also hosts the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which sets international food standards to ensure the safety and quality of food products. By monitoring food security and agricultural sustainability, the FAO provides critical data and analysis to support informed policy-making and effective interventions.
Support and Development Projects: FAO actively supports rural development through various projects in over 130 countries. Its work encompasses a wide range of activities, from improving crop production and improving livestock management to promoting sustainable agricultural practices. These efforts aim to boost productivity, increase resilience to climate change, and improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities around the world.

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