India develops a Forest Environmental Accounting with SEEA Framework by 2025

Introduction

The 8 th issue of the Environmental Accounting on Forest was released on 25th September 2025 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and it became the first step taken to ensure that ecological wealth becomes a part of economic planning. Published on the occasion of the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) in Chandigarh this is the first forest accounting report to be in full compliance with the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) framework.

Structure and Methodology

The publication is done in two volumes. The national-level accounts, which encompass Physical Asset Accounts, Extent Accounts, Condition Accounts and Service Accounts are seen in Volume I. The changes in Volume II are made at the state and Union Territory level which includes decides the changes in a decade. The analysis is mainly based on the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) with support of forestry statistics, SEEA frameworks and the national accounts.

Extension Accounts and Physical Asset.

The forest cover in India increased by 17444.61 sq.km (22.5) between 2010-11 and 2021-22 to 7.15 lakh sq. km, or 21.76 of total area. States in the south such as Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu were the ones that registered the greatest gains. The extent account exhibited a positive further 3,356 sq.km increase in forest area between 2013 and 2023, with the share of Recorded Forest Area contributing to improvement in three states Uttarakhand, Odisha and Jharkhand, in particular.

Condition and Service Accounts.

The new increased stock that is, stock of usable wood, increased by 305.53 million cubic metres in a ten year period and it was topped with 46.0 million cubic metres by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In addition to the physical asset, the service accounts are being used to note the economic value of forests:

• Provisioning services (timber and non-timber products) expanded to value Rs37.93 thousand crore in 2021-22 (compared to Rs30.72 thousand crores in 2011-12) about 0.16% of the GDP. Maharashtra and Gujarat became the prime donors.
• In control of services especially the retention of carbon, shot up by 51.82 to hit rs620.97 thousand crore in 2021-22 or 2.63% of GDP. Topping this category were Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Assam.

Conclusion

The forest environmental accounting report of 2030 is an innovative measure of connecting the environment and economy. India is also strengthening its sustainable development, climate action, and green growth initiatives by quantifying forests as vital assets in terms of both physical numbers and in terms of offering crucial ecosystem services. Such integration has enhanced policymaking and this is how India envisions its path to match prosperity with the management of the environment.