India took active part in the 20th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20), held at the UN Headquarters in New York from May 5 to 9, 2025. The Indian delegation, led by Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, reaffirmed the country’s strong commitment to sustainable forest management and global climate goals. India presented a compelling account of its achievements in increasing forest and tree cover, restoring degraded landscapes, and promoting international cooperation in forest conservation.
Advancing Global Forest Goals
At the UNFF20, India emphasized its efforts to fulfill the Voluntary National Contributions (VNCs) under the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030, which aims to increase forest area worldwide and promote sustainable forest use. As per the latest India State of Forest Report, India has achieved a forest and tree cover of 25.17% of its total geographical area—demonstrating tangible progress towards its ecological targets.
India highlighted key initiatives that have played a critical role in this progress:
- Aravalli Green Wall Initiative – rejuvenating degraded forest landscapes across northwestern India to restore ecological balance.
- Mangrove Expansion – a 7.86% increase in mangrove cover over the past decade, enhancing coastal resilience and biodiversity.
- Green India Mission – afforestation of over 1.55 lakh hectares, aimed at enhancing ecosystem services and rural livelihoods.
- Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother) – planting of over 1.4 billion seedlings, engaging communities and promoting a culture of conservation.
These initiatives underscore India’s holistic and participatory approach to forest management, blending traditional wisdom, policy reform, and modern technology.
Promoting Global Cooperation Through the IBCA
A key highlight of India’s participation at UNFF20 was its global call to all UN Member States to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)—an ambitious initiative launched by India to protect all seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, cheetah, and puma. The alliance aims to foster global collaboration through joint research, capacity-building efforts, and the sharing of best practices in big cat conservation.
By extending this invitation, India reinforced its role as a global leader in wildlife conservation, building upon its legacy as the home of over 70% of the world’s wild tigers and a long-standing proponent of biodiversity preservation.
Advocating for Country-Led Initiatives
India leveraged the forum to call for global acknowledgment and integration of the outcomes from Country-Led Initiatives (CLI) into official international forestry frameworks. Notably, India hosted a CLI in Dehradun in October 2023, which centered on crucial themes such as forest fire management and forest certification—key components of sustainable forestry in the context of escalating climate challenges.
During the session, India acknowledged the leadership of other countries, including the Republic of Congo, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Austria, for their own CLI contributions. The delegation stressed the need for continued momentum and formal adoption of CLI outcomes to address shared forestry challenges more effectively.
Sharing India’s Forest Restoration Experience
India hosted a side event titled “Restoring Degraded Forest Landscapes: India’s Approach to Sustainable Forest Management and Climate Resilience.” The event showcased India’s successful models of forest landscape restoration, emphasizing:
- Policy innovation and convergence of resources
- Community-driven afforestation and protection
- Use of remote sensing and satellite tools for monitoring
- Cross-sectoral integration to address forest degradation
Participants praised India’s inclusive model of governance, which leverages grassroots participation and technological solutions to scale up restoration efforts and build climate resilience.
Integrating Ecosystem Valuation in Policy
India took part in a high-level panel discussion on “Valuing Forest Ecosystems in National Policy and Strategy,” where the delegation presented insights from pilot studies conducted in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and prominent tiger reserves. These studies assessed critical ecosystem services such as:
- Carbon sequestration
- Water provisioning
- Biodiversity conservation
were assessed using frameworks like the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). India emphasized the importance of integrating these ecosystem valuations into national planning and budgetary frameworks, urging global actors to consider non-market ecosystem services in decision-making for long-term sustainability.
Conclusion
India’s participation at UNFF20 not only highlighted its domestic achievements in forest conservation and afforestation but also showcased its global leadership in environmental diplomacy and sustainability. From leading big cat conservation through IBCA to advocating for global adoption of CLI outcomes and ecosystem valuation, India is positioning itself at the forefront of forest governance and ecological restoration.
As climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation continue to pose serious challenges, India’s model of community-driven, science-backed, and policy-aligned forestry could serve as an inspiring blueprint for nations around the world. Through continued multilateral engagement and leadership, India reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the planet’s green heritage for future generations.
