Environmental Accounting on Forest 2025

Released by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in September 2025.
Occasion: Inaugural session of 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO), Chandigarh.
Purpose: Present comprehensive forest accounts at national and state levels in accordance with the UN SEEA framework.
Format: Two volumes (Volume I – methodology & national-level data; Volume II – state & UT level data).
Report available at www.mospi.gov.in.

SEEA Framework:

United Nations System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) is an international framework integrating environmental and economic data.
Adopted by India in 2018.
Developed by UN, European Commission, FAO (2012).
Purpose: Measure environment’s contribution to economy and economic impact on environment.

Primary Data Sources:

India State of Forest Report (ISFR, biennial national assessment)
Forestry Statistics Report 2021 (ICFRE)
SEEA-Central Framework, SEEA-Ecosystem Accounting
NCAVES Report, National Accounts Statistics (MoSPI)
ICFRE: Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, established 1986, HQ: Dehradun

1. Physical Asset Accounts

Forest cover growth (2010-11 → 2021-22): +17,444.61 sq. km (22.5%), reaching 7.15 lakh sq. km (21.76% of geographical area).
Major contributors: Kerala (4,137 sq. km), Karnataka (3,122 sq. km), Tamil Nadu (2,606 sq. km).
Total geographical area of India: 32.87 lakh sq. km.

2. Extent Account

Forest extent change (2013 → 2023): +3,356 sq. km, due to reclassification & boundary adjustments.
States with notable RFA increases: Uttarakhand (6.3%), Odisha (1.97%), Jharkhand (1.9%).

3. Condition Account

Growing stock (volume of usable wood) increased by 305.53 million cum (7.32%) between 2013-2023.
Key contributors: MP (136 million cum), Chhattisgarh (51 million cum), Telangana (28 million cum); UT: Andaman & Nicobar Islands (77 million cum).

4. Services Account

A. Provisioning Services

Timber & non-timber products value: ₹30.72 → ₹37.93 thousand crore (2011-12 → 2021-22) ≈ 0.16% of GDP (2021-22).
Top states: Maharashtra (23.78), Gujarat (14.15), Kerala (8.55) thousand crore.
India’s GDP (2021-22): ₹236.65 lakh crore.

B. Regulating Services

Carbon retention services value: ₹409.1 – ₹620.97 thousand crore (2015-16 → 2021-22) ≈ 2.63% of GDP.
Top contributors: Arunachal Pradesh (296), Uttarakhand (156.6), Assam (129.96) thousand crore.
Significance: Climate change mitigation & national goals.

Highlights decadal changes in forest assets, extent, condition, and services.
Includes literature review & case studies on forest accounting at state/UT levels.

Ministry: MoSPI (formed 1999, merged Department of Statistics & Programme Implementation).
UN SEEA Framework: International standard for environmental-economic integration, adopted in India 2018.
ICFRE: Established 1986, HQ Dehradun; key source for forestry statistics.
India’s forest cover: 7.15 lakh sq. km (21.76% of geographical area, 2021-22).
Top states for forest cover growth: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
Carbon retention services contribute ~2.63% of GDP.