India’s forest and tree cover now accounts for 25.17% of the country’s total geographical area, which is 827,357 square kilometers. Specifically, forests cover 21.76%, while tree cover makes up 3.41%.
Green Cover Increases
According to Bhupender Yadav, the Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, the “India State of Forest Report” reveals an increase in green cover. The report indicates a growth of 1,445 square kilometers in forest and tree cover since the last report two years ago.
Carbon Stock Grows
This expansion in green cover has significantly boosted India’s carbon stock, which now stands at 30.43 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Consequently, this increase plays a key role in India’s efforts to enhance climate resilience.
Progress on Carbon Sequestration Targets
The report also highlights India’s progress towards meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement. India has already achieved 2.29 billion tonnes of additional carbon sink, close to the 2.5 billion-tonne target for 2030.
Forest Carbon Stock Up
Furthermore, the report states that the total carbon stock in India’s forests has reached 7,285.5 million tonnes. This is an increase of 81.5 million tonnes since the last assessment, underscoring the importance of forests in carbon sequestration.
