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OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3554
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026
Protection and Monitoring of Saplings
3554. SHRI AJENDRA SINGH LODHI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that despite large-scale tree plantation drives in various
States, the expected increase in forest cover is not being achieved due to tree felling and
inadequate protection of saplings;
(b) if so, the details of survival rate of saplings planted across the country during the last three
years, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government proposes to implement any new action plan for the protection and
monitoring of saplings as well as for controlling illegal felling to ensure the effectiveness
of tree plantation drives; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): The Government accords high priority to the conservation, protection, restoration and
enhancement of forests and tree cover in the country, in accordance with the applicable legal
and policy framework. Increase in forest and tree cover is a gradual ecological process
influenced by several factors, including local climatic and edaphic conditions, species
characteristics, genetic potential, silvicultural practices, protection from biotic and abiotic
disturbances, and the age and growth stage of plantations. The outcomes of these afforestation
and restoration interventions become evident gradually over time. As per the India State of
Forest Report 2023, the total forest and tree cover of the country has increased by 1445.81 km2
as compared to the last assessment of 2021.
Further, conservation of natural forests and restoration of degraded forest landscapes are
undertaken through assisted natural regeneration, artificial regeneration, Compensatory
Afforestation under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and the
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, the Green India Mission, Nagar Van Yojana,
MISHTI and other afforestation and restoration programmes. The approved operational
guidelines of these programmes provide for site-specific species selection, plantation
maintenance, protection measures during the prescribed maintenance period and periodic
monitoring by the implementing agencies.
Protection of forests against illegal felling and other forest offences is primarily the
responsibility of the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
Action in this regard is taken by States/UTs under the provisions of the applicable forest and
other relevant laws. Similarly the survival of plantations is monitored by the respective
implementing agencies and State Governments as part of scheme implementation and projectmonitoring. The State-wise database on the survival rate of saplings across all afforestation
programmes is not maintained centrally by the Ministry.
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