National Workshop on Forest Resource Assessment

Summary of the National Workshop on Leveraging Latest Technologies in Forest and Tree Resource Assessment

Key Highlights:

• Event: National Workshop on 'Leveraging Latest Technologies in Assessment of Forest and Tree Resources'.
• Date: September 10, 2026.
• Location: New Delhi.
• Presiding Minister: Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Objectives:

• Strengthen indigenous capabilities for forest assessment using advanced technologies.
• Improve quality of green cover and effective forest conservation through standardized parameters and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).

Workshop Details:

• Participants included state forest departments, scientific institutions, and technology experts.
• Technical sessions focused on:
  • Digitization of forest boundaries.
  • Forest and tree cover assessment.
  • Estimation of carbon stocks.

Key Statements from Minister Bhupender Yadav:

• Emphasized the need for co-existence with nature and respect for natural resources.
• Advocated for robust data on natural resources to enhance decision-making and accelerate India’s climate commitments through nature-based solutions.
• Highlighted the importance of the Indian Forest Survey (IFS) in documenting forest conservation and green cover.

Policies and Commitments:

• NDC Target: Enhance carbon sinks through forests and tree cover, aligned with the third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
• Regular Assessments: The IFS has conducted biannual assessments of forest and tree resources since 1987, providing a scientific basis for monitoring changes and supporting national and international reporting.

Conservation Strategies:

• Call for standardization of parameters to enable coordinated action on forest conservation.
• Necessity to classify fire-affected areas based on historical data to identify hotspots for targeted prevention strategies.
• Recognition of wetlands as critical ecosystems for biodiversity and ecological balance.

Future Goals:

• India aims to create a carbon sink equivalent to 3.5-4.0 billion tons of CO2 by 2035, necessitating strong institutional capacities, effective policies, and community participation along with technological innovations.

Government Initiatives:

• Continuous technical and financial support to states and Union Territories through:
  • Green India Mission
  • Misti (Mangrove Restoration)
  • Nagar Van Yojana (Urban Forest Scheme)
  • Namo Forest (National Afforestation Programme)
  • A dedicated initiative named "Paid Mother" for enhancing tree cover.

Conclusion:

The workshop focused on discussing technologies and strategies to strengthen forest governance, support climate-resilient actions, and ensure sustainable management of India’s natural resources through enhanced institutional capacities.