Lok Sabha Question No. 2370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: CAMFA Funds
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2370

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## CAMFA Funds

## 2370.   DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has issued any perspective plan for utilisation of Net Present Value (NPV) funds for improvement of forests and wildlife habitat recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the objectives thereof;
- (c) the response of various States particularly of Maharashtra in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  put  some  limits  on  the  utilisation  of  Compensatory Afforestation Management Fund Act (CAMFA) funds under NPV whereas there is no specific limit under the Act and Rules;
- (e) if so, the details in this regard; and
- (f) the  manner  in  which  new  perspective  plan  will  strengthen  the  forests  and  wildlife habitat in the country particularly in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (f): The  Compensatory Afforestation  Fund Act,  2016  (CAF Act)  provides  the  legal framework for compensating the loss of forest and ecosystem services due to diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes as per provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The CAMPA funds including Net Present Value (NPV) are received from various user agencies as compensatory  levies  in  lieu  of  diversion  of  forest  land  and  are  project  specific.  The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018 (CAF Rules) provide the manner in which NPV funds are to  be  utilised  by  various  State/Union Territory (UT) Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

The CAMPA funds are special and additional funds for compensating the loss of forest land and ecosystem services and are not meant to replace normal State funds. NPV funds aim at holistic ecological restoration of degraded forests, create/enrich more forests, improve the quality of forest cover and wildlife habitat, conservation of biodiversity and enhancement of ecosystem services. The States/UTs CAMPA prepare Annual Plan of Operations for carrying out  afforestation  and  various  activities  for  improvement  of  forest  and  wildlife  habitat  in accordance with the provisions of CAF Act & CAF Rules including the activities for utilisation of NPV fund.

The NPV fund available with most of the States/ UTs is limited and is likely  to be exhausted if used without due diligence and proper planning. Since the ecological restoration of degraded forests require systematic and continuous efforts with adequate financial resources for long period of time, a perspective plan for effective utilisation of NPV funds is necessary. Therefore, the National (CAMPA)  Authority issues guidelines/directions to State/UT Authorities from time to time including preparation of a perspective plan to rationalise fund utilisation  within  a  given  time  frame  with  an  identified  physically  achievable  target.  The States/UTs are advised to identify and plan activities of ecological restoration viz. Assisted Natural/ Artificial Regeneration, soil & water conservation measures, silvicultural operations, removal of invasive  species etc. and ensure continuous flow of funds for subsequent  years towards creation and maintenance and avoid utilising this fund for non-essential activities.

Therefore,  the  State/UT  CAMPA  Authorities  have  been  advised  to  prepare  their perspective plan to strengthen efforts for conservation and improvement of forest and wildlife habitats in the country.  The States and UT Authorities including Maharashtra are preparing their Annual Plan of Operations accordingly with a  yearly  limit of 15-20% on NPV  Funds available with them. This will ensure regular flow of NPV funds for maintenance of plantations, soil moisture conservation and other related forest and wildlife habitat improvement activities.