Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is undertaking afforestation and reforestation efforts through various schemes, including the Green India Mission, Nagar Van Yojana, MISHTI, and CAMPA. The "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign encourages citizen participation. Plantations are monitored through a multi-tiered approach, with a preference for native species to maintain local biodiversity.
Key Points / Main Content:
Afforestation and Reforestation Programs:
* Afforestation and reforestation work is being done through schemes like the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitat and Tangible Benefits (MISHTI), and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
* The "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign, launched on June 5th, 2024, encourages citizens to plant trees.
* Maharashtra reported planting 2,616,633 saplings under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign.
Monitoring and Assessment:
* Plantations are monitored through a multi-tiered approach involving Central and State mechanisms.
* State Forest Departments conduct annual physical verification and third-party monitoring, submitting .kml files and geotagged photographs.
* Corrective maintenance drives are undertaken based on survival assessments.
* The National Afforestation Monitoring System (NAMS) strengthens centralized monitoring using geospatial tools.
* The Forest Survey of India (FSI) assesses changes in forest cover.
Species Selection:
* Species selection prioritizes ecological suitability and site-specific conditions, with a preference for native species.
* Exotic species are avoided unless they serve specific ecological or socioeconomic purposes and are approved by the State authority.
* Native species contribute to maintaining local biodiversity, soil health, and water table recharge.
* States are encouraged to prioritize native, multispecies plantations for ecological and community benefits.
Impact Analysis:
State Forest Departments:
* Impact: Responsible for conducting annual physical verification and third-party monitoring of plantations.
* Action Required: Submit .kml files and geotagged photographs to the Ministry; undertake corrective maintenance based on survival assessments.
Citizens:
* Impact: Encouraged to participate in afforestation efforts through the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign.
* Action Required: Plant trees in honor of their mothers.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Oversees and coordinates afforestation and reforestation programs.
* Action Required: Strengthen centralized monitoring using NAMS; promote mass plantation drives and awareness campaigns.
Forest Survey of India (FSI):
* Impact: Responsible for assessing changes in forest cover.
* Action Required: Undertake forest resource surveys and assessments.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental and forestry policies.
Green India Mission: An afforestation and reforestation initiative by the Indian government.
National Afforestation Programme: An afforestation and reforestation initiative by the Indian government.
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: A campaign launched to encourage citizens to plant trees in honor of their mother.
Maharashtra: A state in India, specifically mentioned for afforestation and reforestation efforts.
Nagar Van Yojana: An ongoing afforestation and reforestation scheme by the Indian government.
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitat and Tangible Benefits: An ongoing afforestation and reforestation scheme by the Indian government.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority: An afforestation and reforestation initiative by the Indian government.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2397
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Afforestation and Reforestation Schemes
2397. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:
SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:
SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:
SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of afforestation and reforestation work done under the Green India
Mission/National Afforestation Programme/"Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" schemes during
the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Maharashtra;
(b) the details of total area covered under afforestation and reforestation programmes
especially in Maharashtra in comparison with the target set in this regard;
(c) the details of the existing mechanisms to ensure the survival of the saplings planted
thereof along with the details of the post plantation monitoring framework; and
(d) the details of species planted during the said years along with the difference between
native and exotic species and the ecological impact of these plantations on local
biodiversity and water level?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) The Ministry is undertaking afforestation and reforestation work through ongoing
schemes such as the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana
(NVY), and the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitat and Tangible Benefits
(MISHTI), among others. Afforestation activities are also being carried out through
the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA). The Ministry also promotes mass plantation drives on occasions such
as International Day of Forests, World Environment Day, Van Mahotsav, Wildlife
Week, etc., and raises awareness through campaigns. The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’
campaign, launched on 5th June 2024, encourages citizens to plant trees in honour
of one’s mother.
The overall afforestation and reforestation work taken up by the States/UTs,
including Maharashtra, under various schemes/programs is detailed in Annexure-
1. In the current year, Maharashtra has reported the plantation of 2,616,633
saplings under the overarching “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign which is
implemented in convergence with various afforestation and reforestation
schemes/programs.(c) Monitoring of plantations follows a multi-tiered approach involving both Central
and State mechanisms. State Forest Departments conduct annual physical
verification and third-party monitoring, and submit .kml files and geo-tagged
photographs to the Ministry. Corrective maintenance drives are taken up based on
survival assessments. The Ministry has also launched the National Afforestation
Monitoring System (NAMS) to strengthen centralized, transparent monitoring
using geospatial tools. The Forest Survey of India (FSI), a premier national
organisation under the Ministry, undertakes forest resource surveys and assessment
of changes in forest cover.
(d) Species selection for afforestation activities is based on ecological suitability and
site-specific conditions, with a strong preference for native species, and it varies
from State to State. Exotic species are avoided unless they serve specific ecological
or socio-economic purposes and are approved by the concerned State authority.
Native species contribute to maintaining local biodiversity, soil health, and water
table recharge, while exotic species, if not carefully managed, may alter local
ecology, affect water availability, or displace native flora/fauna. States have been
encouraged to prioritize native, multi-species with site-specific suitability for
plantations for ecological and community benefits.
*****Annexure-1
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2397
regarding ‘Afforestation and Reforestation Schemes’ raised by Shri Shrirang Appa
Chandu Barne; Smt. Bharti Pardhi; Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure; Shri Sanjay
Haribhau Jadhav due for reply on 04.08.2025.
State/UT- wise details of plantation activities under various schemes in last three years
and current year:
Sr No State/UT Area Planted (Hectares) Seedlings (in Lakhs)
1 Andhra Pradesh 210106 1587
2 Arunachal Pradesh 17751 43
3 Assam 26981 421
4 Bihar 159423 1036
5 Chhattisgarh 127272 886
6 Goa 668 5
7 Gujarat 707153 4933
8 Haryana 70300 574
9 Himachal Pradesh 61734 248
10 Jharkhand 108793 707
11 Karnataka 153105 861
12 Kerala 5281 49
13 Madhya Pradesh 254284 1653
14 Maharashtra 78599 836
15 Manipur 12255 95
16 Meghalaya 2922 29
17 Mizoram 7681 65
18 Nagaland 7148 30
19 Odisha 237239 1675
20 Punjab 78580 497
21 Rajasthan 299214 1439
22 Sikkim 9197 60
23 Tamil Nadu 116415 577
24 Telangana 848975 5738
25 Tripura 43135 245
26 Uttarakhand 112469 731
27 Uttar Pradesh 1482150 10846
28 West Bengal 66786 397
29 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 10395 52
30 Chandigarh 84 7
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and
31
Daman & Diu 2094 33
32 Delhi 21131 90
33 Jammu and Kashmir 34480 492
34 Ladakh 334 9
35 Lakshadweep 41 0
36 Puducherry 860 5
Total 5375034 36949
*****