Parliament Question: Degraded land under Green Credit Programme

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 72 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 Degraded land under Green Credit Programme 72. SHRI SHAMBHU SHARAN PATEL: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) the arrangements in place for registration of eroded/degraded land under the Green Credit Programme; (b) the process for issuance of Green Credits and their digital tracking; (c) the categories of eligible participants authorised to undertake plantation activities; and (d) the progress achieved, so far, in terms of afforestation and citizen participation? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (c) The Green Credit Programme is an innovative mechanism to incentivise environmentally positive actions and to promote the LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement, which aims at encouraging sustainable lifestyles by driving community towards behavioural changes that support environment-friendly actions. The Green Credit Programme aims to increase green cover, enhance carbon sequestration, restore degraded lands and reduce carbon footprint through the adoption of environment-friendly technologies and practices. The Central Government has notified Green Credit Rules, 2023 on 12th October 2023 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to encourage voluntary environmental positive actions resulting in issuance of Green Credits. Under the Green Credit Programme, the modality for tree plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forest lands has been notified on 22nd February 2024 and subsequently revised on 29th August 2025. A Green Credit Programme Portal (https://moefcc-gep.in/) has been developed for the purpose. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun is the Administrator which is responsible for the effective implementation of the Green Credit Programme, including its management, operation and issuance of green credits under these rules. The Green Credit Programme aims to restore degraded forest lands through the active participation of public and private sector entities. The degraded forest land parcels proposed to be taken up under the Green Credit Programme are selected and registered by the State Forest Department after due verification on the ground.The Green Credits can be claimed by an applicant only after minimum five years of restoration work have been completed and a minimum canopy density of forty per cent has been achieved. A five-year establishment period is prescribed to allow the planted seedlings and natural regenerations to mature and develop adequate canopy cover, so as to achieve the prescribed 40 per cent canopy density, corresponding to a moderately dense forest. The "designated agency" designated under the Green Credit Programme shall conduct verification of the claim for the Green Credits and submit report to the Administrator as regard to the verification of the activities undertaken by an applicant for issuance of green credit. Transparency and accountability of the Green Credit Programme is enabled through methodologies, guidelines and digital processes. The forest restoration activities under the Green Credit Programme aim to enhance biodiversity and improve the ecological health and productivity of forest resources. (d) So far under the Green Credit Programme, eco-restoration activities have been initiated over an area of 4258 ha, through the participation of 17 entities. ***