Lok Sabha Question No. 1796 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-27
Subject: Deforestation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: TARIQ ANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1796

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

## Deforestation

## 1796.   SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether reckless deforestation is the main reasons for worsening climate change and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  constituted  any  committee  or  formulated  any  policy  to check deforestation;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of projects undertaken by the Government to keep the country safe from the impact  of  climate  change  along  with  the  name  of  the  committee  constituted  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), changes in atmospheric concentration  of  Green  House  Gases  (GHGs)  and  aerosols,  land  cover  and  solar  radiation alter the energy balance.  Some of these changes have been due to natural causes and other can be attributed to anthropogenic activities.  These anthropogenic activities such as burning of  fossil  fuels,  deforestation,  emissions  from  industries  &  transport,  etc  have  resulted  in increased concentration of Green House Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. These GHGs trap heat and increase earth's average surface temperature leading to climate change.

(b)  &  (c)  The  primary  responsibility  of  protection  and  management  of  forest  areas  from various threats lies with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Government of  India  has  formulated  draft  National  Forest  Policy  2018,  which  emphasizes  integrating climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in forest management. The Government conducts biennial assessment of forest and tree cover using remote sensing technology and publishes findings in India State of Forest Report (ISFR).  As per the latest report, the country has registered an increase in the forest and tree cover.

(d)  The  key  afforestation  programmes  taken  up  by  Government  of  India  includes  National Afforestation  Programme  (NAP)  by  National  Afforestation  and  Eco-Development  Board (NAEB); and National Mission for Green India under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing India's forest & tree cover.  The Government has reconstituted the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) in 2015, to evolve a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the  national  level  and  provide  oversight  for  formulation  of  action  plans  in  the  area  of assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The Government is also providing assistance under the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change scheme to States/ Union Territories to meet cost of adaptation measures covering various sectors, including forestry.

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