In a pioneering step towards digital-first, data-driven forest conservation, Rajasthan Government has partnered with Japan International Cooperation Agency and Boston Consulting Group to launch DigiVan – India’s first-of-its-kind Digital Forest Stack.
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri. Bhajan Lal Sharma, launched DigiVan – a first-of-its-kind Digital Forest Stack today at the Rajasthan International Center, Jaipur. The high-profile State event was organized on the occasion of International Day of Forests, and graced by key dignitaries, including Hon’ble Minister of Forests, Environment, Climate Change & Science and Technology, Govt. of Rajasthan, Shri Sanjay Sharma and Additional Chief Secretary, Smt. Aparna Arora, alongside senior leadership from Japan International Cooperation Agency, Boston Consulting Group, as well as leaders from various corporates, startups, researchers and academia from across the country.
Developed in collaboration by the Rajasthan Forest Department, JICA’s DXLab and BCG, DigiVan represents a transformative step towards digital-first, data-driven forestry management. The vision of the Forest Stack is to ensure sustainable forest management, conservation and utilization of forest resources and unlock value for a wide variety of stakeholders through the creation of Digital Public Infrastructure.
It is estimated that India’s Forest Stack could generate USD 18-22 billion annually by 2030, driven by green cover expansion, improved market access, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
DigiVan will enable governments, corporates, startups, academia, NGOs, Cos, and local communities to collaborate for the efficient management of forest ecosystems. Two initial applications—forest health monitoring and forest project planning—have already been successfully deployed for the Rajasthan Forest department, providing real-time insights for better governance and conservation strategies.
Speaking at the event, Eiji Wakamatsu, Senior Representative of JICA India office highlighted that “DigiVan will not only help to drive the effective increase of vegetation cover in the state of Rajasthan but also help the State plan for economic benefits it can derive from its forest lands by means of providing livelihoods to communities living in and around forests. DigiVan ties closely with JICA’s mission in sustainable development and human security.”
Arijit Banerjee, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Rajasthan Forest Department, emphasized how DigiVan aligns with Central Government’s vision for Digital India. “Rajasthan has been at the forefront of digital governance, and DigiVan is a game-changer system for the Rajasthan Forest Department. It will unlock multiple use cases for all stakeholders, including local communities. The two applications built —forest health monitoring and forest project planning—are already deployed state-wide, improving on-ground efficiency and transparency.”
Aparna Bijapurkar, Managing Director & Partner, BCG, shared the future scale-up plans for the Forest Stack. “The vision for DigiVan extends beyond Rajasthan—it is designed to evolve into a global Digital Public Good for forestry. The next phase will include a Forest Data Exchange, expanded use cases, and innovation challenges to encourage start-ups and researchers to develop new solutions.” In line with this, the Hon’ble CM officially announced the launch of an Open Innovation Challenge, to be conducted in partnership with iStart Rajasthan, to drive further technological innovation in forestry.”
Sushma Vasudevan, Managing Director & Partner, BCG, highlighted the economic potential of DigiVan. “The Forest Stack can generate an annual economic impact of $18-22 billion cumulatively across all states in India by 2030, making it a crucial enabler of sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”
Yushi Nagano, Head of JICA DXLab, flagship initiative of JICA that spearheads digital transformation, reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to sustainable development and digital innovation. “JICA is honored to partner with Rajasthan in pioneering DigiVan, a solution that will revolutionize digital forestry in India and serve as a model for other nations. By connecting stakeholders through a unified digital infrastructure, we have conceptualized not just a solution for forest conservation, but a model for collaborative, data-driven sustainability that communities worldwide can embrace.”
DigiVan marks a major step towards data-driven forest governance, ensuring climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and enhanced livelihoods for local communities. As the initiative scales, it has the potential to become a global benchmark for digital forestry, reinforcing India’s leadership in sustainable environmental management.