MoSPI Releases First Forest-Focused Environmental Accounting Report

The Government of India has released the Forest Accounts 2025, comprising Volume I: National-Level Forest Accounts and Volume II: State-Level Trends and Literature Review. This report provides a detailed assessment of the physical, monetary, and ecosystem service values of India’s forest resources using the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework and aligned with international best practices. With data spanning over a decade, it captures India’s progress in forest conservation, climate change mitigation, and the economic valuation of forest services, reinforcing its commitment toward the net-zero emissions goal by 2070.

Key Details of The Report

1. Forest Cover and Physical Asset Account

• India’s forest cover increased by 17,444.61 sq. km (22.5%) between 2010–11 and 2021–22, reaching 7.15 lakh sq. km, which now accounts for 21.76% of India’s total land area. This growth reflects a combination of reforestation, afforestation, and improved forest management practices.
• Among the states, Kerala recorded the highest increase in forest cover with +4,137 sq. km, followed by Karnataka with +3,122 sq. km, and Tamil Nadu with +2,606 sq. km.

2. Extent Account: Forest Area Adjustments

Between 2013 and 2023, India witnessed a net increase of 3,356 sq. km in forest extent. However, this was primarily driven by reclassification and boundary updates rather than new afforestation. Noteworthy gains in Recorded Forest Area (RFA) were seen in:

• Uttarakhand: +6.3%
• Odisha: +1.97%
• Jharkhand: +1.9%

These adjustments highlight improved mapping and data collection efforts by forest departments across states.

3. Condition Account: Growth in Forest Stock

The growing stock—the volume of usable wood in living trees—rose by 305.53 million cubic meters, marking a 7.32% increase between 2013 and 2023. This growth is a vital ecological indicator of forest health and biomass.

Top contributors to this increase include,

• Madhya Pradesh: 136 million cubic meters
• Chhattisgarh: 51 million cubic meters
• Telangana: 28 million cubic meters
• Andaman & Nicobar Islands (UT): 77 million cubic meters

These figures indicate sustainable forest management practices and increased biomass productivity in these regions.

4. State-Level Trends and Research Insights (Volume II)

The second volume of the report presents decadal data at the state and UT level, focusing on,

• Trends in forest asset changes
• Condition and health of ecosystems
• Contributions of forests 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 helping integrate forests into state GDP calculations.

5. Services Account: Valuation of Forest Contributions

Provisioning Services: Timber and Non-Timber Products

The total value of provisioning services (such as timber, medicinal plants, fruits, bamboo) rose from ₹30,720 crore in 2011–12 to ₹37,930 crore in 2021–22. This is equivalent to 0.16% of India’s GDP in that year.

Top contributing states include,

• Maharashtra: ₹23,780 crore
• Gujarat: ₹14,150 crore
• Kerala: ₹8,550 crore

This increase demonstrates the growing economic importance of sustainable forest-based livelihoods and industries.

Regulating Services: Carbon Retention and Climate Impact

The carbon retention value of forests saw a massive increase of 51.82%, from ₹409,100 crore in 2015–16 to ₹620,970 crore in 2021–22. This now represents 2.63% of India’s GDP at current prices.

Leading states in carbon retention value are,

• Arunachal Pradesh: ₹296,000 crore
• Uttarakhand: ₹156,600 crore
• Assam: ₹129,960 crore

This valuation confirms forests’ pivotal role in climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and offsetting emissions, which directly contributes to India’s Paris Agreement and net-zero 2070 commitments.

6. Data Sources and Methodology

The report relies on integrated data from multiple trusted sources including,

• India State of Forest Report (ISFR)
• Forestry Statistics 2021 (ICFRE)
• National Accounts Statistics
• SEEA Ecosystem Accounting standards
• NCAVES (Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services) Project

It includes QR code-enabled access to Excel-based datasets, allowing for interactive data retrieval and analysis by researchers, policymakers, and students.

For Static

• Released by: MoSPI during CoCSSO, Sept 25, 2025
• Framework Used: UN SEEA (System of Environmental Economic Accounts)
• Forest Cover Increase: +17,444.61 sq. km (2010–11 to 2021–22)
• Carbon Retention Value: ₹620.97k crore (2.63% of GDP in 2021–22)
• Growing Stock Rise: +305.53 million cum (2013–2023)
• Provisioning Services Value (2021–22): ₹37.93k crore