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India flags Forest Cover and Restoration Progress
India highlights progress in forest and tree cover, landscape restoration, sustainable forest management, and climate action at the 28th Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO 28). India reaffirms support for the proposed United Nations Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation (2027 to 2036) at COFO 28 in Rome, Italy.
India at COFO 28:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Venue and dates | COFO 28 is held in Rome, Italy, from 28 September to 2 October 2026. |
| India’s stated restoration priorities at COFO 28 | India emphasizes priorities: Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) should be adopted as an integrated approach to restoration; restoration should account for national circumstances and local community needs; increased technology transfer and capacity building are needed; restoration programmes should deliver measurable outcomes; sustainable and effective financing mechanisms are important for developing countries; improved access to climate, biodiversity, and blended finance is essential; enhanced coordination is required among FAO forestry initiatives, Global Forest Goals, and other international forest processes; strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation remains a priority. |
| Aravalli Green Wall | The initiative identifies approximately 6.45 million hectares of degraded land for restoration and focuses on restoring degraded landscapes within the Aravalli region. |
| MISHTI programme | MISHTI is dedicated to restoration of mangrove ecosystems and provides for enhancing climate resilience and supporting local livelihoods. |
| Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother) | The campaign comprises government and societal participation in tree planting, and over 3.5 billion saplings have been planted under it. |
| Bonn Challenge: India commitment | India commits to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030. |
| Bonn Challenge: progress reported | India reports that 21.76 million hectares have been brought under restoration to date. |
| Additional carbon sink created | By 2021, India has created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. |
| Enhanced carbon sink target | The enhanced target provides for achieving a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2035, relative to 2005 levels. |
| Climate commitment linkage | Forests and trees are critical to India’s climate commitments and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) actions. |