KATHMANDU: Among the eight South Asian nations, Bhutan has the highest forest coverage, while Nepal ranks in the second position, according to the Economic Survey for the Fiscal Year 2025/2026.

The Economic Survey reports that Bhutan has 69.71 percent forest coverage, followed by Nepal with 46.08 percent, Sri Lanka with 34.1 percent, China with 22.96 percent, India with 21.71 percent, Bangladesh with 12.8 percent, Pakistan with 4.8 per cent, Maldives with 2.7 percent, and Afghanistan with 1.9 percent. Globally, forests cover 32 percent of the world’s total land area.

In 2024, Nepal’s forest area accounted for 46.08 percent of its total land area. Out of this total area, forest proper comprises 43.38 percent, while shrubs and bushes account for 2.7 percent.

Looking back at the historical data, Nepal’s forest coverage stood at 39.6 percent in the 1990s decade, which increased to 44.74 percent in 2015, and further rose to 45.31 percent in 2019.

Out of the country’s total land area, 34,420 square kilometers are designated as protected areas, representing 23.4 percent of the nation’s total land territory. Furthermore, a total of 1941.56 square kilometer of forest area have been managed so far under 11 Forest Conservation Areas.

Similarly, up to this past February-March, 899 community forest groups have been formed within buffer zones and protected areas, covering an area of approximately 2250.08 square kilometers. Additionally, 5.48 square kilometers of forest area are being managed through 48 buffer zone leasehold forests.

The Economic Survey also notes that up to this past February-March, 25098.25 square kilometers of forest area have been managed through 23,162 Community Forest User Groups.

In addition, intensive forest management is being carried out across 443.84 square kilometers of forest area through 33 Collaborative Forest User Groups.