New Delhi: Good news for the country. India has now joined the select group of nations with the largest forest cover in the world. In the latest global figures, India has improved its rank by one position to secure the 9th spot.
This information was revealed by the United Nations body FAO in its new report. The report was released in Bali, Indonesia. When the previous assessment was conducted, India stood at number 10.
That’s not all. When it comes to how much new forest is being added every year, India has maintained its third position globally. This means we are not just protecting forests but also planting new trees every year.
Minister Congratulates on Social Media
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared this news on Tuesday on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote that this is a matter of pride for every Indian.
“Last time we were at 10th position. Now we have reached 9th position. Also, in terms of annual forest increase, we are at number three in the world,” the minister mentioned in his post.
Yadav said this success is the result of Prime Minister Modi’s vision. The government’s policies have worked. The impact of schemes focused on protecting forests, planting new trees, and involving village communities is now visible.
‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Changed the Picture
The Prime Minister’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree in Mother’s Name) campaign is creating waves across the country. It hasn’t remained just a slogan. People are actually planting trees.
The biggest feature of this campaign has been that it connected common people with the environment. Earlier, government departments used to plant trees. Now people in neighborhoods are planting trees themselves and taking care of them too.
“Awareness has come among people. They have understood that protecting the environment is necessary,” the minister said.
State Governments Also Contributing
Along with central policies, state governments have also planted trees on a large scale. Many states have launched their own campaigns. Somewhere children in schools were given trees, while elsewhere large campaigns were run along roadsides.
Yadav said that when government and people work together, results are good. That’s what has happened here. People’s participation has increased. Everyone is understanding their responsibility.
Example for the World
At a time when the entire world is grappling with climate change, India’s achievement becomes even more important. Forests are being cut rapidly in many countries. In such a scenario, India’s increasing forest cover is an inspiration for the world.
This is not just about numbers. It shows that along with development, environment can also be protected. India is proving that economic progress and greenery can go hand in hand.
In the past few years, India has taken several big steps on the environmental front. The country’s voice has also strengthened on international platforms. This ranking is a result of that.
The Road Ahead
Although this achievement is good, we cannot stop. There is still a lot of work remaining. With urbanization, pressure on forests is increasing. This needs to be managed.
Experts say that just planting trees is not enough. Their maintenance is also necessary. In many places, after planting trees, there is no monitoring. Attention needs to be paid to this.
Still, this is time to celebrate. The country has taken a big leap. If this pace continues, India can go even higher in the coming years.
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