The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change held a national workshop in New Delhi to discuss how modern technology can improve the way India measures and manages its forests and trees. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the event, which brought together forest officials, scientists and technology experts from across the country.
What the workshop covered
The workshop examined three main areas: digitising forest boundaries, assessing forest and tree cover, and calculating carbon stock in forests. The Environment Minister stressed that India needs to use the latest technology while also building on local knowledge and skills among forest staff.
The Forest Survey of India, the premier body responsible for documenting India’s green cover, has been conducting assessments every two years since 1987. These reports form the scientific foundation for tracking changes in forests and reporting to international climate bodies. The Minister emphasised the need for standardised methods and clear procedures so that all institutions follow the same parameters when measuring forests.
He highlighted that India aims to create a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes of CO₂-equivalent by 2035 as part of its climate commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He also called for classifying forest areas by fire risk and identifying hotspots for targeted prevention. Additionally, he stressed the importance of maintaining the right balance between wetlands, woodlands and grasslands to protect biodiversity.
The government currently supports forest expansion through schemes including the Green India Mission, MISHTI, Nagar Van Yojana, Namo Van and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, which provide technical and financial assistance to states and union territories.
What this means for you
Better technology in forest assessment can lead to more accurate data on India’s green cover and carbon storage capacity, which directly affects climate action efforts. If forests are mapped and monitored more precisely, it helps ensure that afforestation programmes actually improve forest quality rather than just adding numbers on paper. For citizens, this means government decisions on environmental protection will be based on stronger scientific evidence.