Question 1

Global deforestation rates are accelerating year-on-year.

Accepted Answer

According to GFRA 2025, the annual rate of global net forest loss actually fell from 10.7 million hectares in the 1990s to 4.12 million hectares between 2015 and 2025.

Question 2

The GFRA only measures pristine, natural forests to calculate its rankings.

Accepted Answer

The FAO defines a 'forest' as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10%, which explicitly includes plantations and agroforestry.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025:
1. It is published annually by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. India ranks 3rd globally in terms of total forest area.
3. According to the report, the global annual rate of net forest loss has increased significantly in the 2015-2025 period compared to the 1990s.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(d) None — Statement 1 is incorrect: The GFRA is published every five years by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), not UNEP. Statement 2 is incorrect: India ranks 9th globally in total forest area; it ranks 3rd in 'net forest area gain'. Statement 3 is incorrect: The net forest loss has declined from 10.7 million hectares per year in the 1990s to 4.12 million hectares per year between 2015-2025.

Question 4

Match List I (India's Performance Indicator in GFRA 2025 / Climate Targets) with List II (Rank / Value):

List I:
A. Rank in total forest area globally
B. Rank in average annual net forest area gain
C. Rank among top global carbon sinks
D. Additional carbon sink target under India's NDC by 2030

List II:
1. 3rd
2. 5th
3. 9th
4. 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent

Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 — In GFRA 2025, India ranks 9th in total forest area (A-3), 3rd in net forest area gain (B-1), and 5th as a global carbon sink (C-2). Under the Paris Agreement, India's updated NDC targets an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030 (D-4).

Question 5

Assertion (A): India's ranking in total global forest area improved to the 9th position in the GFRA 2025 report.
Reason (R): Under its updated 2022 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), India officially increased its 2030 carbon sink target from 3 billion tonnes to 5 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(c) A is correct but R is not correct. — Assertion (A) is correct as India moved from the 10th to the 9th position in GFRA 2025. Reason (R) is incorrect because India's updated NDC in 2022 kept the carbon sink target unchanged at 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030. Only the emission intensity and non-fossil fuel electricity capacity targets were updated.

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 Released

NITI Aayog Launches Three Circular Economy Reports