Lok Sabha Question No. 5018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Forest Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Shri Atul Garg, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5018

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Forest Conservation

## 5018. SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

SHRI ATUL GARG:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  recognises forests  as  critical  ecological  assets  contributing  to environmental  stability,  biodiversity  conservation  and  climate  resilience  in  the  country particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the  details  of  measures  taken  to  strengthen  forest  conservation,  afforestation  and sustainable forest management across the country;
- (c) whether  initiatives  have  been  undertaken  to  promote  research,  documentation  and preservation  of  forest  ecosystems  and  associated  cultural  heritage,  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the  details  of  steps  taken  to  address  threats,  such  as  deforestation,  illegal  logging  and climate change; and
- (e) the expected role  of  forest  conservation  in  achieving  India's climate commitments  and ecological sustainability goals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) Yes, the Government recognises forests as critical ecological assets that play a vital role in maintaining environmental stability, conserving biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience across  the  country,  including  in  the  States  of  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra  and  Uttar Pradesh.

(b)  and  (c)  The  Ministry  provides  technical  and  financial  support  to  the  States  and  Union Territories  through  various  schemes  and  programmes  of  the  Central  Government  for increasing forest and tree cover, including protection, conservation and sustainable management of forests in the country. These include, inter alia, the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and  Tangible  Incomes  (MISHTI),  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Management  and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, and forest fire prevention  and  management  schemes.  In  addition,  States  and  Union  Territories  implement State-specific afforestation, reforestation and forest conservation schemes in accordance with their ecological, climatic and geographic conditions.

Further, a plantation campaign ' एक पेड़ माँ क े नाम #Plant4Mother' has also been launched on the  occasion  of  World  Environment  Day  2024  and  in  the  current  year  also  to  undertake plantation activities across the country.  This campaign follows the 'Whole of Government' and  'Whole  of  Society'  approach  with  participation  of  all  stakeholders  for  increasing  the green cover in the country. The campaign has contributed to large scale plantation aiding the enhancement of green cover in the country.

The Ministry promotes research, documentation and academic activities relating to forestry and forest ecosystems through institutions such as the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and the Indian Institute of Forest Management. These institutions undertake research, training, consultancy and knowledge  dissemination  in  areas such as forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate change and natural resource management.

(d) and (e) The Protection and management of forest are primarily the responsibility of the State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations.  There  are  legal  frameworks  for  the protection  and  management  of  forest  resources  of  the  country  which  include,  the  Indian Forest Act 1927, Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam 1980, and the State Forest Acts,  Tree  Preservation  Acts  and  Rules,  etc.  The  State  Governments  /UT  Administrations take appropriate actions to protect forest and tree resources and address deforestation, illegal logging under the provisions made under these Acts/ Rules.

India has submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) first in 2015, and updated it in August 2022. One of the goals under the NDC is to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion of tonnes of CO2  equivalent through increased forest and tree cover by 2030.

The Government is implementing a National Mission for a Green India under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The Mission focuses on increasing forest cover, restoring degraded forests and enhancing ecosystem services through community participation. As per India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tones CO2 equivalent has been created between 2005 and 2021 against the NDC target 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030.

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