In response to Unstarred Question No. 284 regarding the utilisation of CAMPA funds, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh) stated that compensatory afforestation and eco-restoration activities should consist of heterogeneous, indigenous species, as per the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 guidelines. Afforestation activities are implemented according to the approved Annual Plan of Operations (APO) and follow the provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, the CAF Rules, 2018, and the Van Adhiniyam, 1980 guidelines. The survival rates of afforestation activities are maintained by the respective State and UT Forest Departments. The question addressed concerns about the use of CAMPA funds for commercial monoculture plantations, the lack of mandates for native ecosystem restoration, species composition details, survival rates, and the issuance of guidelines for native species composition and ecological restoration outcomes. The question was asked by DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH. The answer was given on 02.02.2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016: Governs the management and utilization of compensatory afforestation funds.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA): The authority responsible for managing and planning the utilization of compensatory afforestation funds.
CAF Rules, 2018: Rules related to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.
Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980: Guidelines issued under this act regulate compensatory afforestation activities.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry overseeing CAMPA funds and related activities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 284
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Utilisation of CAMPA Funds
284. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds are being used for planting
commercially valuable monoculture plantations rather than native species restoration,
defeating ecological compensation goals;
(b) the reasons for not mandating that a minimum percentage of CAMPA funds be used for
restoration of native ecosystems rather than commercial plantations;
(c) the details of the species, composition of plantations funded by CAMPA during the last
five years;
(d) the survival rate of CAMPA funded plantations after three years; and
(e) whether the Government plans to issue binding guidelines on native species
composition and ecological restoration outcomes for CAMPA-funded projects and if so,
the ecological standards set in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) As per the Guidelines issued under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan)
Adhiniyam, 1980, the species to be planted under compensatory afforestation and eco-
restoration related activities should be heterogeneous in nature consisting of indigenous
species. Afforestation activities are implemented in accordance with the approved Annual Plan
of Operations (APO), duly conforming to the provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation
Fund Act, 2016 and the CAF Rules, 2018, as well as the guidelines issued under the Van
(Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
The survival rate of afforestation activities undertaken are maintained by the respective State
and UT Forest Departments.
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