Through multiple initiatives, government seeks to develop forests in metropolitan areas.

Nursery Today Desk

New Delhi. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change encourages plantation in the country including various metropolitan cities for providing wholesome healthy living environment for the residents and thus contributing to growth of clean, green, healthy and sustainable cities.

The Ministry promotes urban forestry, tree plantation on vacant lands and bunds on farm lands etc. through programmes and schemes such as Nagar Van Yojana, School Nursery Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), National Afforestation Programme (NAP), National Mission for a Green India (GIM), etc. by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc.

The government has announced implementation of the Nagar Van Scheme on the occasion of the World Environment Day (5th June). The Nagar Van (Urban Forests) aims to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in the next five years. Under NVY 385 projects have been sanctioned so far which includes 26 numbers of projects in cities of Uttar Pradesh state.

There are multiple steps taken by government to protect and develop forest areas in the country especially metropolitan cities.

1. Different laws, such as the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and other central/state laws as applicable to a State/UT, are implemented for the preservation and protection of forests and wildlife by the respective State Government/UT Administration. In addition, the Ministry offers financial assistance to the States and UTs as part of the Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme to help them protect themselves against forest fires.
2. With the help of the people’s participation, the Ministry has implemented the National Afforestation Programme (NAP), which has since been merged with the National Mission for a Green India (GIM). Under this program, among other submissions, there is a special sub-mission for increasing tree cover in urban and peri-urban areas. Since the NAP’s inception in 2000, an area of more than 2 million hectares has been set aside for afforestation in the States/Union Territories (UTs), with an investment of roughly Rs. 3982 crores through 2022–23. GIM initiatives got underway in FY 2015–16.
3. According to the terms of the Compensatory Fund Act, 2016, and the rules created thereunder, urban forestry is a permissible activity. According to the Compensatory Fund Act of 2016, the Government of India has distributed Rs. 51768.76 crores from the National Fund to 33 State funds as a portion of the respective states.
4. Tree planting is also being done cross-sectorally under other programs/funding sources of other ministries/organizations as well as through State Plan budgets because it is a multi-departmental, multi-agency activity.