Global Forest Resources Assessment

Subject: Environment

Context:

According to the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) report, India has ranked third among the top 10 countries that have gained in forest areas in the last decade.

Concept:

• Food and Agriculture Organization has brought out this comprehensive assessment every five years since 1990.
• This report assesses the state of forests, their conditions and management for all member countries.
• The top 10 countries that have recorded the maximum average annual net gains in forest area during 2010-2020 are China, Australia, India, Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania.
• India reported 38 per cent annual gain in forest, or 266,000 ha of forest increase every year at an average.
• The FRA 2020 has credited the government’s Joint Forest Management programme for the significant increase in community-managed forest areas
• India accounts for two per cent of total global forest area.
• India reported the maximum employment in the forestry sector in the world.
• Globally, 12.5 million people were employed in the forestry sector. Out of this, India accounted for 6.23 million, or nearly 50 per cent.