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.
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:
These adjustments highlight improved mapping and data collection efforts by forest departments across states.
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,
These figures indicate sustainable forest management practices and increased biomass productivity in these regions.
The second volume of the report presents decadal data at the state and UT level, focusing on,
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.
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,
This increase demonstrates the growing economic importance of sustainable forest-based livelihoods and industries.
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,
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.
The report relies on integrated data from multiple trusted sources including,
It includes QR code-enabled access to Excel-based datasets, allowing for interactive data retrieval and analysis by researchers, policymakers, and students.
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