Lok Sabha Question No. 3752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Climate Resilience Programmes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3752

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## Climate Resilience Programmes

## 3752.  SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  afforestation,  wildlife  conservation  and climate-resilience  programmes  nationwide  to  support  ecological  sustainability  and community livelihoods;
- (b) whether  eco-restoration,  afforestation  or  wildlife-linked  livelihood  initiatives  have been  undertaken  in  forest  areas  of  Katni,  Panna  and  Khajuraho  region,  including around Panna Tiger Reserve;
- (c) the  details  of  employment  generated,  community  participation  and  eco-tourism benefits recorded locally;
- (d) whether  the  conservation  investments  remain  inadequate  or  livelihood  benefits limited, if so, the reasons and corrective steps taken in this regard; and
- (e) the plan to integrate forest protection with eco-tourism, local enterprises and climate resilient livelihoods so that conservation efforts translate into sustainable income in these districts?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (e) The  Government  provides  financial  assistance  to  States/Union  Territories under various schemes and programmes for afforestation, wildlife conservation  and  climate  resilience,  including  the  Green  India  Mission, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Nagar Van Yojana and activities supported under CAMPA.

Under the Project  Tiger component of the Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH), financial assistance is provided to tiger range States, including Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya  Pradesh,  for  activities  such  as  habitat  management,  protection measures, eco-development, infrastructure and human resource development, tribal  welfare, awareness generation and use of scientific advancements, as per  the  sanctioned  Annual  Plan  of  Operation  based  on  the  statutory  Tiger Conservation Plan.

Activities taken up in forest areas of Katni, Panna and Chhatarpur districts, including  around  Panna  Tiger  Reserve,  include  conservation  and  ecorestoration works such as habitat improvement, soil and moisture conservation  works,  assisted  natural  regeneration,  grassland  development, protection measures including maintenance of anti-poaching camps and fire lines, and eco-development activities. These activities generate employment opportunities for local communities through plantation works, habitat management and eco-development programmes, while community participation is facilitated through Joint Forest Management Committees and Eco-Development  Committees.  Tourism  activities in and around tiger reserves are carried out in accordance with the National Tiger Conservation Authority  (Normative  Standards  for  Tourism  Activities  and  Project  Tiger) Guidelines, 2012.

The works undertaken under the various schemes and programmes generate employment  for  local  people  through  plantation  and  protection  activities, while  providing  livelihood  support  such  as  community-based  eco-tourism services,  handicrafts,  nature  guides  and  other  forest-based  enterprises  in areas  adjoining  protected  areas.  Financial  and  physical  progress,  including employment  generation  and  community  participation,  is  monitored  by  the respective  State  Government/Union  Territory  Administration  under  the guidelines of the concerned schemes.

The  adequacy  of  conservation  investments  and  livelihood  outcomes  vary depending  on  factors  such  as  local  ecological  conditions,  availability  of suitable land for restoration, capacity of community institutions and market linkages  for  nature-based  enterprises.  Financial  assistance  under  the  above schemes covers activities relating to habitat restoration, afforestation, wildlife  conservation,  eco-development  and  livelihood  support,  including activities  through  Eco-Development  Committees,  community-based  ecotourism,  capacity  building  of  local  communities  and  value  addition  and marketing of non-timber forest produce. These interventions integrate forest protection with eco-tourism, local enterprises and climate-resilient livelihoods.

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