Forest assessment workshop focuses on digital boundaries, carbon and data standards
The government is seeking common parameters, better field data and stronger procedures for forest-cover, carbon-stock and fire assessments.
The Environment Ministry has convened state forest departments, scientific institutions and technology specialists to discuss digital forest boundaries, forest and tree-cover assessment and carbon-stock estimates.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav called for common parameters, better data, forest-fire hotspot classification and stronger operating procedures for the India State of Forest Report. He linked the work to India's 2035 target of adding a 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonne carbon sink in carbon-dioxide equivalent terms from forest and tree cover.
Why it matters
Forest and carbon data guide conservation decisions, land-use policy and the credibility of national climate reporting.
SCULTRA point of view
Better technology should improve reproducibility and field validation, not simply produce more precise-looking maps and estimates.
Limitations
The workshop announced priorities rather than a new assessment methodology, dataset or independently tested measurement system.
Source: Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 10 September 2026, 3:15 PM IST.