Lok Sabha Question No. 457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Plantation of Trees on Barren Land
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIAMTE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 457 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Plantation of Trees on Barren Land

## 457. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

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

- (a) the steps taken/to  be  taken  by the Government  for  plantation,  protection  and promotion  of trees  on  the  waste  and  barren  land  at  various  locations  in  the  country during the last five years and the next three years;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  conduct  continuous  study  for  the  survey, research  and  development  of  forests  through  the  Research  Institute  of  the  Forest Department, Forest Development Corporation, Indian Forest Survey, etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the time by which the final decision in this regard is likely to be taken; and
- (d) the details of the  steps  taken by Government to ensure the participation of the local people  in  the  conservation  and  upkeep  of  the  forests  and  to  meet  their  needs  and aspirations associated with the forestry, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change encourages plantation in the country through various programs/schemes such as National Mission for Green India (GIM), National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Nagar Van Yojana, School Nursery  Yojana,  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Management  and  Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds, etc. which promotes tree plantation on waste, vacant and barren  lands  by  involving  local  communities,  local  bodies  NGOS,  educational institutions,  etc.  The  year  wise  number  of  trees  planted  and  area  covered  under plantation across the country during the last five years is given at Annexure-I .
- (b) &  (c)  The  Ministry  conducts  scientific  forestry  research  regularly,  necessitating priorities  for  action  with  increasing  recognition  of  the  importance  of  forests  for environmental  health,  energy  and  employment  through  Indian  Council  of  Forestry

Research and Education (ICFRE) and its institutions, Forest Survey of India (FSI), Botanical  Survey  of  India,  Zoological  Survey  of  India,  Wildlife  Institute  of  India, etc.

Further,  studies  and  researches  are  also  being  undertaken  by  many  other agencies  of  the  centre  and  state  governments,  including  forest  departments,  forest corporations,  remote  sensing  centers/agencies  etc.  and  the  findings/outcomes  of which are also supplementing need based development of forests.

- (d) In  consonance  with  the  National  Forest  Policy  1988,  the  local  communities  are involved through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) in the management of forests and various afforestation activities. Various schemes including Green India Mission, National Afforestation Programme, Forest Fire Protection and Management Scheme, and Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat are being implemented by the Ministry and the State/UT governments with the participation of these committees.  Further,  for  the  management  of  the  Wildlife  Protected  Areas,  Eco Development Committees (EDCs) are also formed to ensure people participation in wildlife conservation.

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Annexure-1 Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 457 due  for  reply  on  05.02.2024  by  Shrimati  Poonam  Mahajan  regarding  'Plantation  of Trees on Barren Land'

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   No. of Seedlings Planted (in Lakhs) |   Area Covered under plantation (in Ha.) |
|-----------|------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|         1 | 2018-19          |                               10968.6 |                              1.39969e+06 |
|         2 | 2019-20          |                               15023.9 |                              2.0579e+06  |
|         3 | 2020-21          |                               13968.6 |                              2.21107e+06 |
|         4 | 2021-22          |                               11800.7 |                              1.77696e+06 |
|         5 | 2022-23          |                               12109.1 |                              1.85279e+06 |

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