The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has been taking several initiatives for expansion of forest and tree cover as well as conservation of mangroves and wetlands in the country. The details of the schemes are as under:

 

1. National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is aimed at protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s forest cover through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) in the participating States/UTs. Under this scheme, \a sum of  Rs. 944.48 crores has been released to 17 States and 1 Union Territory for creation of plantation/eco-restoration.
2. The Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) is a scheme intended to create forest/green spaces in urban and peri-urban areas and is implemented through the State/UT Forest Departments and Urban Local Bodies. The Ministry has sanctioned a total of 546 projects in 31 Sates/ UTs and released Rs. 431.77 crore under the scheme.
3. The School Nursery Yojana (SNY), a scheme intended to create awareness and motivate students to understand and appreciate the significance of plants is being implemented in recognized public and private schools. A total of 743 projects in 19 Sates/ UTs with an outlay Rs. 4.80 crore have been sanctioned under this scheme.
4. The “Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes” (MISHTI) scheme has been launched to restore and promote mangroves as unique, natural eco-system and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal habitats. A total of Rs. 17.96 crores has been released to the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal and UT of Puducherry.
5. Under the ambit of National Coastal Mission, vide component Conservation and Management of Mangroves and coral reefs the Ministry has provided financial assistance to coastal States/Union Territories for conservation of Mangroves across 9 coastal states and 1 Union Territory.
6. The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 5^th June, 2024 draws a parallel between the nurturing of nature by Mother Earth, and the nurturing of human lives by our mothers. It aims to underline this relation by voluntary planting of trees as a mark of love, respect and honour for mothers and by pledging to protect trees and mother earth by all citizens.
7. Ministry is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) for conservation and management of wetlands in the country, on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective State Governments
8. In addition to the above, funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are utilized for compensating the loss of forest and ecosystem services due to diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes as per the provision of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
9. Afforestation targets are fixed annually under the Twenty Point Progarmme by MoEF&CC for States/UTs. These targets are achieved collectively by the States/UTs through various programmes of the Central Govt. Schemes, State Govt. plan and non-plan schemes and plantation efforts by NGOs, Private organizations, Civil Societies etc.
10. The Ministry also on various occasions like International Day of Forests, World Environment Day, Van Mahotsav, Wildlife Week, etc. promotes mass tree plantation and disseminates knowledge about tree plantation and conservation of forests among public through various conferences, Workshops, Brochures, Sign boards etc. Apart from this, the conservation of forests, mangroves and wetlands is ensured by strict enforcement of the relevant Acts/Rules/regulations and Court orders.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

 

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