India has turned greener! As per a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), China, Australia, and India made the most gains in forest area between 2010 and 2020. India gained 2,66,000 hectares of forest area annually during this period. Read on to know more about this report and also the top 10 countries that are featured on this list.
India Among Top 3 Countries In Forest Area Gains From 2010 To 2020
According to a new FAO report, India has secured the third spot among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains from 2010 to 2020. With a gain of 2,66,000 hectares of forest area annually, India has been praised by the United Nations agency for its effort to restore greenery in the country.
As per The Indian Express report, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has lauded India for “its efforts in restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry through innovative approaches.” The agency has especially praised India’s new national policy aimed at better-supporting agroforestry in the country.
China led this list with the maximum forest area gain of 1,937,000 hectares between 2010 and 2020. They were followed by Australia with 4,46,000 hectares of forest gains.
The report highlighted a significant reduction in deforestation in many countries. Indonesia observed an 8.4% decline in deforestation from 2021 to 2022 and the Amazon forest saw a 50% reduction in deforestation in 2023. Furthermore, as per the FAO report, the rate of gross global mangrove loss decreased by 23% between 2010 and 2020.
Here Are The Top 10 Countries As Per FAO Report
While India secured the third spot in the forest area gains list by the FAO, we’re sure you’re interested in knowing about the top 10 countries featured on this list. So, here are the top 10 countries that reported significant forest area gains between 2010 and 2020.
1. China
2. Australia
3. India
4. Chile
5. Vietnam
6. Turkey
7. United States
8. France
9. Italy
10. Romania
Despite these impressive forest area gains, the FAO report has highlighted how climate change remains a big issue worldwide. According to them, climate change increases the vulnerability of forests to stressors like wildfires and pests.
According to their data, boreal forests accounted for nearly 1/4 of carbon dioxide emissions due to wildfires in 2021. In 2023 alone, wildfires emitted about 6,687 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally!
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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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