Owaisi seeks details on CAMPA plantations in Uttarakhand; MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh cites 800-hectare afforestation plan
Dehradun, August 10
An area of 800 hectares of land has been identified for plantation under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority in Uttarakhand during 2026-27, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to an unstarred question raised by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi regarding CAMPA plantations in Uttarakhand.
"As per information received from the State Government of Uttarakhand, during the year2026-27, an area of 800 hectares of land is being taken up for plantation," he said.
According to the Ministry, the land for compensatory afforestation is identified in accordance with the provisions of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, under which plantations are carried out on non-forest land or degraded forest land.
"The Government of Uttarakhand has informed that both non-forest land and degraded forest land are being identified for raising compensatory afforestation using indigenous tree species," the Ministry said.
It added that the plantations would comprise a mix of "timber, fuelwood, fodder, fruit-bearing, medicinal and other locally suitable species."
The Ministry further stated that compensatory afforestation is undertaken on land identified and approved as part of the approval granted by the Central Government under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and in accordance with the provisions of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016.
On compliance with the Forest Rights Act (FRA), the Ministry said the Annual Plan of Operations (APO) for CAMPA projects is prepared and implemented as per the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018.
"As per Rule 5 of the said Rules, activities undertaken on forest land are carried out in consultation with the concerned Gram Sabha or Village Forest Management Committee, as the case may be, and in consonance with the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006," the Ministry said.
It added that the process is followed wherever applicable, in accordance with guidelines issued by respective State Governments and Union Territory administrations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's encouraging to see the government taking steps for afforestation, especially with indigenous species. The mix of timber, fuelwood, and fruit-bearing trees seems well thought out. But the real challenge is the implementation on the ground. Having worked in environmental conservation, I know that local community involvement is crucial. Glad to see FRA compliance is mentioned, but we need to ensure that Gram Sabhas actually have a say in the process, not just on paper.
This is all good on paper, but I wonder about the real reason behind this question. The MP is just doing his job, but sometimes I feel these questions are just for headlines. However, using local species is a smart move - it makes sense for the local ecosystem and wildlife. I just hope the forest department actually follows through and doesn't just plant trees for a photo opportunity. 🙏🏽
As someone from Uttarakhand, I can tell you that we need more than just compensated afforestation. The state is prone to landslides, and trees are crucial for preventing them. This 800-hectare plan is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of deforestation that has happened in the last decade. Also, why is the plan for 2026-27? Why the delay? Climate change is not waiting for us. The government should be more ambitious and faster with these projects.
India needs more of this transparency! I appreciate the MoS sharing specific data. The inclusion of medicinal and fodder species is interesting - it shows they are thinking about the local people's needs, not just planting random trees. I just hope they work closely with the local communities, as the FRA says. Without their involvement, these projects often fail or get neglected.
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