The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) adopted the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) Framework in 2018 which is an agreed international framework for the compilation of the Environment Economic accounts since.

In 2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) compiled and released the 8^th consecutive issue of the publication related to environment accounts titled “Environmental Accounting on forest -2025” on 25^th September, 2025 during Inaugural session of 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) held on 25-26^th September 2025 in Chandigarh. This is the first dedicated publication on forest accounting compiled with the objective of presenting comprehensive information on forest accounts at both the national and state levels, in accordance with the SEEA framework. The publication is compiled in two separate volumes. The report is available at the Ministry’s website www.mospi.gov.in

Volume I outlines the methodology and national-level data for various forest ecosystem accounts. It covers Physical Asset Accounts (tracks the actual area under different forest cover categories over time), Extent Accounts (organizes information on the extent of different ecosystem and how that extent changes over time), Condition Accounts (provides insight about the characteristics and quality of ecosystem assets and how they have changed during the accounting period), and Service Accounts- valuation of provisioning (timber +Non timber, regulating (carbon retention), and cultural services.

5. II presents state and Union Territory (UT) level data, highlighting decadal changes in forest assets, extent, condition, and services. Furthermore, based on a literature review, it includes coverage of work carried out in some states and UTs.

The biennial national assessment published in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) serves as one of the primary data sources for the aforementioned publication. The indicators have been developed based on the data available in the different series of ISFR Publication. Other sources of the publication for data/methodology includes Report on Forestry statistics 2021 India by ICFRE, SEEA-Central framework, SEEA- Ecosystem Accounting, NCAVES Report, National Accounts statistics, MoSPI.

Some of the highlights from the report are as follows:

1. Physical Asset account

From 2010-11 to 2021-22, India’s forest cover grew by 17,444.61 sq. km (22.50%), reaching 7.15 lakh sq. km (21.76% of geographical area), indicating effective regeneration and conservation efforts. Major state-wise increases: Kerala (4,137 sq. km), Karnataka (3,122 sq. km), and Tamil Nadu (2,606 sq. km).

2. Extent Account

Between 2013 and 2023, India’s forest extent account recorded a net increase of 3,356 sq. km, mainly due to reclassification and boundary adjustments. States with notable rise in Recorded Forest Area (RFA) share: Uttarakhand (6.3%), Odisha (1.97%), and Jharkhand (1.9%).

3. Condition Account

Growing stock, a key indicator in the forest condition account, reflects the volume of usable wood in living trees. Between 2013 and 2023, India’s growing stock rose by 305.53 million cum (7.32%) during 2013-2023. Biggest contributors: Madhya Pradesh (136 million cum), Chhattisgarh (51 million cum), and Telangana (28 million cum); among UTs, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (77 million cum).

 

4. Services Account

 

1. Provisioning services

• The forest service account of India shows that provisioning services (timber and non-timber products) increased from ₹30.72 to ₹37.93 thousand crore between 2011-12 and 2021-22, about 0.16% of GDP at current price in year 2021-22. Top states: Maharashtra (23.78), Gujarat (14.15), and Kerala (8.55) thousand crore.

2.  Regulating services

• The forest service account of India reports a 51.82% rise in carbon retention regulating services, from ₹409.1 to ₹620.97 thousand crore between 2015-16 and 2021-22, emphasizing forests’ vital role in climate change mitigation and national goals.  The value in 2021-22 is equivalent to 2.63% of GDP at current price. Leading contributors: Arunachal Pradesh (296), Uttarakhand (156.6), and Assam (129.96) thousand crore.
   

**** 

Samrat / Allen

(Release ID: 2171193) Visitor Counter : 865