Lok Sabha Question No. 5261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Promotion of Plantation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Upendra Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N NO. 5261

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Promotion of Plantation

## 5261. SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to promote plantation in various metropolitan cities in the country including Lucknow through recognized Non-Governmental Organisations under Social Forestry Schemes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  various  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  for  conservation  and development of forest in various metropolitan cities in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to(c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change encourages plantation in various  metropolitan  cities  including  Lucknow  in  the  country  through  programmes and  schemes  such  as  Nagar  Van  Yojana,  School  Nursery  Yojana,  Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management  and Planning Authority (CAMPA),  National Afforestation  Programme  (NAP),  National  Mission  for  a  Green  India  (GIM),  etc. which  promotes  urban  forestry,  tree  plantation  on  vacant  lands  and  bunds  on  farm lands  etc.  by  involving  local  communities,  NGOs,  educational  institutions,  local bodies, etc. With respect to urban areas, the Ministry is implementing the Nagar Van Yojana, the scheme initiated for creation of Nagar Van in urban areas.

The following additional steps taken by the Government contribute to protection and development of forest areas in the country including in the metropolitan cities:

- i. For preservation and protection of forest and wildlife, various laws including the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and other central/state laws as applicable to a State/UT, are implemented by  the  respective  State  Government  /UT  Administration.  The  Ministry  also provides financial supports to the States /UTs under Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme for protection against forest fire.
- ii. The Ministry has implemented National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for tree

plantation  in  degraded  forests  through  people's  participation  which  has  been merged with National Mission for a Green India (GIM), under which, in addition to other sub-missions, there is a specific sub-mission for enhancing tree cover in urban and peri-urban areas. An area of over 2 million hectare was earmarked for taking up afforestation in the States/Union Territories (UTs) with an investment of about Rs. 3982 crores till 2021-22 under NAP since its launching in the year 2000.  Under  GIM  an  amount  of  about  Rs.  728  crore  has  been  released  to States/UTs  since  2015-16  to  2022-23.  NAP  has  been  merged  with  GIM  and implemented as single scheme at present.

- iii. Urban  forestry  is  a  permissible  activity  under  the  provisions  of  Compensatory Fund Act, 2016 and the Rules made there under.
- iv. Further,  tree  plantation,  being  a  multi-departmental,  multi-agency  activity,  are also being taken up cross-sectorally under various programmes/funding sources of other ministries/ organizations and also through State Plan budgets.

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