Nepal Climbs to No. 2 in South Asia for Forest Cover, New Survey Says
A new Economic Survey places Nepal second in South Asia for forest coverage, trailing only Bhutan and highlighting the country’s strong standing on land conservation.
Nepal has emerged as the second-highest forest-covered country in South Asia, according to the Economic Survey for Fiscal Year 2025/2026. The report places Nepal at 46.08 percent forest coverage, behind Bhutan’s regional-leading 69.71 percent.
The ranking puts Nepal ahead of other South Asian countries and underscores the country’s unusually strong forest profile in a region where land pressure, population growth, and environmental stress often limit forest expansion.
Why this ranking matters
Forest cover is more than a statistic. It is a measure tied to biodiversity, watershed health, climate resilience, soil stability, and rural livelihoods. Nepal’s position near the top of the South Asian list suggests that, despite development pressures, the country has preserved a significant share of its land under forest.
That matters especially in a mountain nation like Nepal, where forests help reduce erosion, protect downstream communities, and support ecosystems across the Himalayas.
Bhutan still leads the region
Bhutan remains the clear regional leader with 69.71 percent forest cover, a level that reflects its long-standing conservation approach. Nepal’s 46.08 percent places it well below Bhutan, but still firmly ahead of the rest of the region based on the survey’s findings.
The Economic Survey’s figures also reinforce a broader regional pattern: South Asia contains a large share of the world’s population, but comparatively limited forest area. That makes every percentage point of forest cover especially important.
A positive signal, with a bigger story behind it
While Nepal’s ranking is encouraging, it also points to a deeper challenge. Forest cover statistics do not automatically capture forest quality, biodiversity, or long-term sustainability. A country can have substantial forest area while still facing pressure from degradation, fragmentation, illegal logging, or land-use change.
For Nepal, the number is best read as a sign of relative strength, not a reason for complacency. Maintaining forest cover will likely depend on balancing conservation with infrastructure growth, agricultural needs, and climate adaptation.
What this means for Nepal
Nepal’s second-place position in South Asia could strengthen its case as a regional example of environmental stewardship. It also offers a useful benchmark for policymakers as the country weighs economic development against land protection.
In practical terms, the finding highlights three things: the value of community and national conservation efforts, the importance of protecting forest-dependent livelihoods, and the role forests play in Nepal’s climate and water security.
For a country often associated with mountains and glaciers, this latest survey adds another defining feature: a surprisingly strong forest footprint that places Nepal near the top of South Asia’s environmental rankings.