🌳
Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA)
2025

Released by:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations

Release Date: October 21, 2025

Edition: 15th (conducted every 5
years since 1948)

Covers Data: 1990–2000, 2000–2015,
and 2015–2025 (35 years)

Countries Covered: 236

🌎 Global Highlights

·        
Total Global
Forest Area (2025): 4.06 billion hectares (31% of world’s land area)

o    Tropical:
45% | Boreal: 27% | Temperate: 16% | Subtropical: 11%

·        
Top 5
countries (by total forest area):

1️⃣ Russia – 832.63 Mha
(20%)

2️⃣ Brazil – 486.08 Mha
(12%)

3️⃣ Canada – 368.81 Mha
(9%)

4️⃣ USA – 308.89 Mha (7%)

5️⃣ China – 227.15 Mha (5%)

India – 9th with 72.73 Mha (2%)

·        
Forest
Cover to Land Area (Highest %):

o    1️⃣ French Guiana – 96% (7.98 Mha)

o    2️⃣ Suriname – 94%

o    3️⃣ Guyana – 93%

o    4️⃣ Micronesia – 92%

o    5️⃣ Gabon – 91%

·        
Global
Forest Gain: ~6.78 Mha/year (mainly in Asia & Europe)

o    Top 3 Net Gainers: 🇨🇳
China (1.686 Mha/yr), 🇷🇺 Russia (0.942
Mha/yr), 🇮🇳 India (0.191 Mha/yr)

·        
Deforestation
Trends:

o    Declined
from 17.6 Mha/year (1990–2000) →
10.9 Mha/year (2015–2025)

o    Net forest loss reduced from 10.7 Mha/year → 4.12 Mha/year

·        
Protected
Forests (2025): 813 Mha (20% of total forests)

o    ↑
by 251 Mha since 1990

·        
Global
Forest Decline (1990–2025):

o    From
4,343.5 Mha → 4,140.2 Mha

o    Total
loss: 203 Mha (over 35 years)

·        
Rubber
Plantations (Top 4):
1️⃣ Thailand – 3.314 Mha

2️⃣ Malaysia – 2.181 Mha

3️⃣ China – 1.554 Mha

4️⃣ Vietnam – 0.980 Mha

🌏 Regional Trends

Region	1990 (Mha)	2025 (Mha)	Trend
Asia	582	630	↑ Increase
Africa	779.5	662.6	↓ Decline
Europe	997.8	1,038.9	↑ Increase
South America	1,028.4	848.6	↓ Sharp Decline (Amazon loss)
North America	735	744	↔ Stable
Oceania	184.4	183.9	↔ Stable

🇮🇳 India-Specific Highlights

·        
Rank:
9th globally (↑ from 10th in last assessment)

·        
Total
Forest Area: 72.73 Mha (2% of global total)

·        
Annual Net
Gain (2015–2025): +0.191 Mha/year

·        
Share of
Land Area as Forest Gain: 0.27%

·        
Community
Forests: 25 Mha under Joint Forest Management (vs. 0 in 1990)

·        
Deforestation:
Northeast (notably Assam) lost ~3,400 sq km (2001–2024)

·        
Key
Contributors: Western Ghats & Peninsular India → major carbon
stock areas

🏛 About FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)

·        
Established:
1945

·        
Headquarters:
Rome, Italy

·        
Director-General:
Qu Dongyu

📝 Quick Exam Pointers

Topic	Key Fact
Report Name	Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA) 2025
Released By	FAO, United Nations
Frequency	Every 5 years
India’s Rank	9th
Top Country	Russia
Country with Highest % of Land as Forest	French Guiana (96%)
Global Forest Gain	~6.78 Mha/year
Net Forest Gain Leaders	China, Russia, India
Protected Forests	20% of total (813 Mha)
India’s Annual Forest Gain	0.191 Mha/year