Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses afforestation and forest conservation efforts in response to Lok Sabha Question No. 1344. The Ministry implements various schemes, including the National Mission for a Green India, Nagar Van Yojana, and School Nursery Yojana, utilizing CAMPA funds. State and Union Territory administrations are primarily responsible for forest management under existing legal frameworks and are subject to a multi-tiered monitoring approach involving both central and state mechanisms. The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign was launched on June 5, 2024.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Afforestation and Conservation Schemes:**
* The Ministry implements Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Central Sector Schemes, and CAMPA-funded schemes.
* Major schemes include the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), and School Nursery Yojana (SNY).
* CAMPA funds compensate for forest loss due to diversion for non-forestry purposes, as per the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980.
* Mass plantation drives are promoted on occasions like International Day of Forests and Van Mahotsav.
* The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign encourages citizens to plant trees in honour of their mothers.
* **Responsibilities of State/UT Governments:**
* Forest conservation, protection, and management are primarily the responsibility of State Governments/UT Administrations.
* Actions are taken under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980, and relevant State Acts and Rules.
* **Monitoring Mechanism:**
* A multi-tiered monitoring approach involves Central and State mechanisms.
* State Forest Departments conduct annual physical verification and third-party monitoring.
* .kml files and geotagged photographs are submitted to the Ministry.
* 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.
* **Afforestation Area (2020-21 to 2024-25):**
* A total of 9,377,919 hectares were afforested across various States/UTs.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and managing forest conservation and afforestation efforts within their jurisdictions and adhering to central guidelines and legal frameworks.
* *Action Required:* Implement afforestation schemes, conduct regular monitoring and verification of plantations, submit reports to the Ministry, and enforce relevant laws and regulations.
* **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:**
* *Impact:* Oversees and supports afforestation and forest conservation efforts nationwide, provides funding and guidance, and monitors the effectiveness of implemented schemes.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing afforestation schemes, provide financial and technical support to States/UTs, monitor the progress of afforestation efforts, and refine policies based on monitoring results.
* **Schools/Students:**
* *Impact:* Increased awareness and involvement in environmental conservation through programs such as the School Nursery Yojana.
* *Action Required:* Participate in afforestation activities like the School Nursery Yojana, learn about the importance of plants and the environment, and promote environmental awareness.
* **Citizens:**
* *Impact:* Encouraged to participate in afforestation efforts and contribute to environmental conservation.
* *Action Required:* Participate in mass plantation drives, especially the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign, and support local conservation efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
National Afforestation Programme: A scheme for afforestation and forest conservation implemented by the Government of India.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority: An authority managing funds to compensate for the loss of forests and ecosystem services due to diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes.
National Mission for a Green India: One of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, aiming to protect, restore, and enhance India's forest cover.
National Action Plan on Climate Change: A comprehensive plan by the Indian government to address climate change.
Nagar Van Yojana: A scheme for developing forest/green spaces in urban and peri-urban areas.
School Nursery Yojana: A scheme engaging students in understanding the importance of plants, implemented in recognized schools.
Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980: A legal framework related to forest conservation and promotion.
Forest Survey of India: An organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that undertakes forest resource surveys and assessment of changes in forest cover.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1344
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Schemes for Afforestation
1344. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has implemented/proposes to implement any Scheme for
afforestation and forest conservation, such as the National Afforestation Programme
(NAP) or CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning
Authority);
(b) if so, the area of forest land afforested under these Schemes during the last five years,
State/UT-wise; and
(c) the monitoring mechanism in place to ensure transparency and long-term survival of
plantations under these Schemes?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) The Ministry is implementing several schemes and initiatives to promote
afforestation and forest conservation in the country, including Centrally Sponsored
Schemes, Central Sector Schemes, CAMPA-funded schemes. The major schemes
include the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), one of the eight Missions
under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, which aims to protect, restore
and enhance India’s forest cover and respond to climate change; the Nagar Van
Yojana (NVY) for developing forest/green spaces in urban and peri-urban areas;
and the School Nursery Yojana (SNY), which engages students in understanding
the importance of plants and is implemented in recognized public and private
schools. Funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and
Planning Authority (CAMPA) are utilized to compensate for the loss of forests and
ecosystem services due to diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes, as per
the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
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 a tree in honour
of their mothers and Mother Earth. Forest conservation, protection, and
management are primarily the responsibility of State Governments/UT
Administrations, under legal frameworks such as the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Van
(Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and relevant State Acts and
Rules. States/UTs take action under these provisions to protect forest and tree
resources.(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) under the Ministry
undertakes forest resource surveys and assessment of changes in forest cover.
State/UT-wise details of area taken up for plantation under various schemes in the
last five years, including on forest land, are provided at Annexure-I.
*****Annexure-1
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1344
regarding ‘Schemes for Afforestation’ raised by Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato due for reply
on 28.07.2025
State/UT- wise details of plantation activities under various schemes in last five years:
S.No. State/Union Territory Area (Ha) 2020-21 to 2024-25
1 Andhra Pradesh 586640
2 Arunachal Pradesh 20021
3 Assam 45433
4 Bihar 280421
5 Chhattisgarh 233399
6 Goa 1090
7 Gujarat 1138066
8 Haryana 118312
9 Himachal Pradesh 123637
10 Jharkhand 172387
11 Karnataka 273437
12 Kerala 31087
13 Madhya Pradesh 405541
14 Maharashtra 203814
15 Manipur 29850
16 Meghalaya 4134
17 Mizoram 19856
18 Nagaland 13665
19 Odisha 503574
20 Punjab 119726
21 Rajasthan 378180
22 Sikkim 16347
23 Tamil Nadu 164235
24 Telangana 1550871
25 Tripura 62288
26 Uttarakhand 186084
27 Uttar Pradesh 2349729
28 West Bengal 179647
29 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 15909
30 Chandigarh 322
31 Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu 2874
32 Delhi 30595
33 Jammu and Kashmir 114190
34 Ladakh 334
35 Lakshadweep 42
36 Puducherry 2183
Total 9377919
*****