#environmentministry

India has achieved a momentous environmental milestone on the global stage. It is solidifying its position as a leading nation in conservation efforts. The Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 was recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bali. According to this report, India has advanced its ranking. The country is now at the 9th position worldwide in terms of total forest area. This represents a significant upward movement from the 10th rank held in the previous global assessment. India's Steady Progress in Conservation

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, communicated the uplifting news. He shared the development via a social media post on 'X' on October 22, 2025.: "Here is a reason to rejoice for all Indians. We have achieved 9th rank in terms of forest area at the global level as compared to 10th spot in the previous assessment. We have also maintained our 3rd position globally in terms of annual gain." The Minister highlighted India's improved ranking in overall forest cover. More importantly, India has also successfully maintained its 3rd position globally in terms of annual forest area gain. This consistent performance underscores India's deeply rooted and effective commitment. It proves success in sustainable forest management and achieving ecological balance. Success of Government Policies and Campaigns Minister Yadav attributed this commendable progress in India's global forest area to the sustained success of the various policies and extensive programmes implemented by the Government of India, operating under the determined leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. These initiatives are specifically designed for robust forest protection, large-scale afforestation, and, critically, promoting community-led environmental action. This multi-pronged approach has yielded tangible results visible in the FAO's latest global data. Furthermore, the Minister pointed to the growing public enthusiasm, inspired by the Prime Minister’s poignant call for 'Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam' (One tree in the name of the Mother) and his continuous emphasis on environmental consciousness. This has spurred a significant increase in active public participation in tree plantation and protection efforts across the nation, fostering a powerful sense of collective responsibility for a greener and sustainable future.

The Centre has disallowed the installation of mobile towers in core and critical tiger habitats in the country, according to new guidelines by the Environment Ministry.

In an order issued in January, the ministry highlighted that the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) has been receiving a large number of proposals for erection of mobile towers and laying of optical fiber cables in national parks, sanctuaries, and tiger reserves and corridors.

It said while providing connectivity to the people residing within or near wildlife-rich areas should be taken on priority, “the protection and conservation of wildlife habitats should not get affected” by such installations.

The ministry also expressed concern that the mobile connectivity could be misused by offenders of forest and wildlife laws.

“The core/critical tiger habitat, notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, should be avoided for installation of the tower,” read the order issued to the chief wildlife wardens of all states and Union territories and the ministry of communications.

According to PTI, The ministry said any proposal seeking recommendation of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife for 4G connectivity in such areas must be accompanied by an undertaking from the district magistrate concerned indicating non-availability of alternate revenue/private lands.

It should also include drawings/sketches of the location of various components of the proposals within the required land and a plan for movement of the equipment and men for erection of towers and their maintenance, the order said.

The user agency will be required to provide an undertaking that call data records of suspected persons for contravention of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 will be provided when requested by the officer not below the rank of deputy conservator of forests having jurisdiction over the area.

The ministry also said new towers should not be installed within a radius of one kilometre of the existing towers to prevent overlapping of high radiation fields.

“If new towers are required to be built, these should be erected with utmost care and precautions so as not to obstruct the flight path of birds, and also not to increase the combined radiations from all towers in the area,” the ministry said.

It said the location and frequencies of cell phone towers and other such installations emitting electromagnetic radiation should be made available in the public domain.