India’s Strategic Roadmap for Forest Restoration: Scaling Commitments at COFO 28

At the 28th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Committee on Forestry (COFO 28), India presented a comprehensive overview of its progress in forest and landscape restoration. The nation reported that its current forest and tree cover has reached 25.17% of its total geographical area, a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to balance developmental needs with ecological sustainability. Central to India’s presentation was its steadfast commitment to the Bonn Challenge—a global initiative to bring 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2030. India has pledged to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land, a target that underscores the country's role as a leader in the Global South regarding climate action and biodiversity conservation. To achieve this, the government is leveraging flagship initiatives such as the Aravalli Green Wall project, which aims to create a massive ecological barrier to combat desertification, and the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), which focuses on the restoration and protection of coastal mangrove ecosystems.