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
IREDA
IREDA Approves ₹1,134 Crore Loan to Insolation Green Energy for 4.5 GW Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant in Madhya Pradesh
PFC_hosts_
PFC Hosts Power HR Forum’s 15th Annual Meet, Uniting PSU Leaders to Drive HR Excellence in Power Sector
IPS Anjana Sinha Ram Gopal Varma case
Who is IPS Officer Anjana Sinha? Filed Case Against Ram Gopal Varma Over Identity Misuse in ‘Dhahanam’ Web Series
HSL hindustan-salts-limited (1)
Hindustan Salts Gets New Leadership: PESB Picks Varun Kumar Shukla as CMD
Konda-Surekha
Forest Minister Konda Surekha Vows Strong Action Against Attacks on Officers, Promises Pay Parity with Police
PNB-resized
Leadership Update: PNB Executive Director M. Paramasivam Gets Government Tenure Extension Till March 2027 
MOIL
MOIL Launches Manganese Ore Exports as State Trading Enterprise with First 54,600-Tonne Shipment to Indonesia
SBI school bus
SBI Donates School Bus to National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa, Leh Under CSR Initiative
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
From Extinction to Exhilaration: The Untold Story and Future Vision of Project Cheetah | Led by IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
Meet K. M. Abharna, the IFS Officer Behind Avni’s Case and Vidya Balan’s Sherni Role
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
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
Tamil Nadu Gaur Rescue
Tiruchirappalli Forest Officials Risk Lives to Rescue Juvenile Gaur; Video Shared by IAS Officer Goes Viral
Trichy forest and fire teams risk lives to rescue a juvenile Indian gaur; IAS officer Supriya Sahu shares...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IREDA
IREDA Approves ₹1,134 Crore Loan to Insolation Green Energy for 4.5 GW Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant in Madhya Pradesh
PFC_hosts_
PFC Hosts Power HR Forum’s 15th Annual Meet, Uniting PSU Leaders to Drive HR Excellence in Power Sector
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr. S.K
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT