https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

India Leads the Way with Groundbreaking Forest Initiatives at UN Forum, Unveils International Big Cat Alliance

India at UNFF20: Leading the Charge in Forest Sustainability and Big Cat Conservation.
Indian Masterminds Stories

New York/New Delhi: At the 20th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20), held from May 5–9 at the UN Headquarters in New York, India reaffirmed its global leadership in forest conservation, sustainable management, and biodiversity protection. Led by 1991 batch IFS (Indian Forest Service) officer Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Indian delegation presented substantial progress in forest cover enhancement, policy innovation, and international collaboration.

India’s Green Gains: A Snapshot

India reported an increase in forest and tree cover to 25.17% of its geographical area, according to the latest India State of Forest Report. This achievement was attributed to major national initiatives such as:

  • Restoration of the Aravalli Green Wall
  • 7.86% rise in mangrove cover over a decade
  • Afforestation of 1.55 lakh hectares under the Green India Mission
  • Plantation of 1.4 billion seedlings through the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (Plant4Mother) campaign

These initiatives were showcased as part of India’s Voluntary National Contributions (VNCs) under the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030, reinforcing the country’s commitment to climate resilience and ecological sustainability.

India Invites Nations to Join International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

A highlight of India’s engagement was the invitation extended to all UN Member States to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). This India-led initiative aims to unite countries for the conservation of the seven big cat species – including the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, jaguar, cheetah, and puma – through collaborative research, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing.

Global Cooperation on Forest Fire Management

India also called for international support for the Country-Led Initiative (CLI) it hosted in Dehradun in October 2023, focusing on forest fire management and forest certification. The delegation encouraged integration of CLI outcomes into formal UN mechanisms and recognized similar efforts led by the Republic of Congo, DPR Korea, and Austria.

India’s Side Event: Restoring Degraded Landscapes

During a dedicated side event titled “Restoring Degraded Forest Landscapes: India’s Approach to Sustainable Forest Management and Climate Resilience,” India highlighted its success in –

  • Policy innovation
  • Community-led restoration
  • Cross-sector resource convergence
  • Technology-based monitoring and evaluation

This event underscored India’s integrated, scalable model for sustainable forest management and climate adaptation.

Valuing Forest Ecosystems in Policy

India also contributed to a high-level panel on “Valuing Forest Ecosystems in National Policy and Strategy,” sharing data from pilot studies in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and tiger reserves. Using frameworks like SEEA and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, India demonstrated methods to quantify ecosystem services such as:

  • Carbon sequestration
  • Water provisioning
  • Biodiversity conservation

The delegation stressed the need to incorporate these valuations into national development and planning frameworks to support long-term ecological sustainability.

Global Call to Action

India’s participation at UNFF20 emphasized its dual role – as both a regional leader in forest management and a global advocate for collaborative environmental governance. With its invitation to join the IBCA and its showcasing of scalable forest restoration practices, India urged the international community to align national efforts with global forest goals.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
AeroCon 2025 Raipur
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Inaugurates AeroCon 2025, Announces ₹65 Crore Hostel for Medical Students in Raipur
UPSC Image
UPSC ESE 2025 Mains Result Out: 1,376 Candidates Qualify for Personality Test – Check Roll Numbers & Guidelines
IPS Anjana Krishna
Will She Be Transferred? “Daring Lady IPS” Anjana Krishna Unlikely to Face Action After Viral Standoff with Ajit Pawar
Meghalaya Government
Meghalaya Signs MoU with Japan to Train and Place 5,000+ Youth in Healthcare, IT & Hospitality Sectors
MRPL Csr Award
MRPL Honoured for Outstanding WASH Initiatives at FKCCI CSR & Sustainability Awards 2025
Pushkar Singh Dhami
CM Dhami Hands Over Appointment Letters to 15 Teachers, Launches ₹15 Crore Tribal Welfare Projects in Uttarakhand
Punjab Forest Dept
Ludhiana Forest Dept Probes Illegal Felling of Fully Grown Trees Near Ghuman Chowk, DFO Rajesh Gulati Orders Inquiry
Fake IAS Saurabh Tripathi
Lucknow Fake IAS Scandal: Saurabh Tripathi Took 'Contracts' for Transfers; Secretary Arrested, Probe Widens to Real Officers
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
Decoding Digital Dangers: Insights from IPS Shikha Goel on Cyber Crimes
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
Managing Elections, Communal Tensions, and Public Safety – Meet IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
Social Media
IAS Sakshi Sawhney Amritsar DC
Punjab Floods: IAS Sakshi Sawhney’s Emotional Appeal to Elderly Man Wins Hearts, Video of Humanity Goes Viral
Viral Video Captures Emotional Moment as Amritsar DC Shows Sensitivity and Courage Amid Relief Effor...
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
AeroCon 2025 Raipur
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Inaugurates AeroCon 2025, Announces ₹65 Crore Hostel for Medical Students in Raipur
tadoba-tiger-reserve
The Forest Sentinel: How IFS Officer Jitendra Ramgaonkar is Redefining Wildlife Conservation in Central India
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IPS Shikha Goel
IPS Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT