NewKerala.com

Himachal to Plant Over 4,000 Hectares with Community Groups by 2027

The Himachal Forest Department aims to undertake plantations on 4,000 hectares by 2026-27, engaging 1,100 community groups. Nearly 60% of these groups will be women's groups, with a budget of Rs 55 crore allocated. The initiative is expected to engage nearly 15,000 women and includes performance-based incentives for high survival rates. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized the government's commitment to increasing forest cover and banning green felling.

Key Points: Himachal Forest Dept Plantation Target 4,000 Hectares by 2027

  • 4,000 hectares plantation target for 2026-27
  • 1,100 community groups to be engaged, 60% women
  • Rs 55 crore budget allocated
  • Performance incentives for groups with >50% survival rate
2 min read

Himachal Forest Department aims to undertake plantations on 4,000 hectares by engaging community groups

Himachal Forest Department aims to plant 4,000 hectares by 2026-27, engaging 1,100 community groups with Rs 55 crore budget, boosting livelihoods and forest cover.

"The government remains committed to increasing forest cover and has imposed a blanket ban on green felling - Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu"

Shimla, April 25

The Himachal Pradesh government's integrated approach to employment generation and environmental conservation is delivering encouraging outcomes. According to a release, under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, launched last year, nearly 300 women's groups, 70 youth groups and 75 other self-help groups carried out plantation activities across about 1,100 hectares of land.

Building on this momentum, the Forest Department has set an ambitious target for 2026-27 to undertake plantations over approximately 4,000 hectares by engaging 1,100 community groups. Of these, 60 per cent will be women's groups, 20 per cent youth groups and 20 per cent other self-help groups. A budgetary provision of around Rs. 55 crore has been allocated for the scheme, said the release.

The initiative is expected to engage nearly 15,000 women in plantation work. Each group is receiving Rs. 1.20 lakh per hectare and can undertake plantations on 2 to 5 hectares of land. Performance-based incentives have also been built into the scheme; groups achieving a survival rate of over 50 per cent after one year will be awarded Rs. one lakh for every two hectares.

The scheme has already demonstrated notable success in promoting afforestation. Yuvak Mandals, Mahila Mandals and self-help groups are being encouraged to plant trees, fruit-bearing species and other useful plants on barren lands, while ensuring their protection. These efforts are not only generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural communities but are also contributing significantly to biodiversity enhancement, the release said.

With a clear focus on sustainable development, the government continues to promote community participation in afforestation and ecological restoration.

This approach is strengthening rural livelihoods while expanding the State's natural resource base. By encouraging the plantation of diverse species and fostering community stewardship, the government aims to create durable green assets for future generations.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government remains committed to increasing forest cover and has imposed a blanket ban on green felling in the state. He added that due to the pragmatic efforts of the government, forest cover in the state is steadily increasing.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
The target of 4,000 hectares sounds impressive, but let's be realistic—survival rate of over 50% for incentives is too low. Why not aim for 70-80%? Otherwise it's just tree plantation drives without accountability. Also, what about monitoring? Without proper checks, groups might just plant and forget.
M
Meera T
This is such a holistic approach—employment for women AND afforestation! I've seen how barren lands in our area have turned green after local groups took charge. The Rs. 1.20 lakh per hectare seems reasonable, but I hope they include fruit-bearing trees that also provide food security. Well done, Himachal government!
S
Siddharth J
Great to see women's groups getting 60% of the pie! However, I'm skeptical about the 4,000 hectares target—it's nearly 4x last year's achievement. Will the Forest Department have enough saplings and technical support? Also, planting is easy; protecting from grazing and fire is the real challenge. Let's see how they handle that.
K
Kavya N
This is exactly what India needs—community-led environmental action! But why only focus on barren lands? Why not include degraded forest areas too? Also, the Rs. 55 crore budget seems tight for such a massive scale. Hope the CM's commitment to ban green felling is enforced strictly. Proud of Himachal today! 🌳
R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but I wish they'd include more native species like deodar and rhododendron instead of fast-growing exotic ones. Also, the incentive structure needs transparency—will the survival rates be verified by independent

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50