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You are here : Home Government unlocks green fund worth over Rs 66000 crore to increase country's forest cover
| Last Updated:: 13/08/2018

Government unlocks green fund worth over Rs 66000 crore to increase country's forest cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Union Government has unlocked green funds worth over Rs 66,000 crore to increase the country’s forest cover. 

 

 

The fund is an accumulated amount of money, which user agencies have been depositing as compensation for diverting forest land for non-forest purposes, including industries and infrastructure, since the past 10 years. 

 

 

The government has finally notified the rules for utilisation of the money by states and Union Territories and for setting up of authorities to monitor its use for afforestation and conservation. 

 

 

 

Key Highlights 

 

 

 

 

  • The rules were framed two years after a law to this effect was enacted. However, they were notified on August 10, 2018
  • The rules specify that 80 per cent of the green fund will be utilised by the states for green activities listed under 13 permissible activities.

 

  • The activities include plantation, assisted natural regeneration of forests, forest fire prevention, pest and disease control in forest, soil and moisture conservation works and improvement of wildlife habitat among others.

 

  • The remaining 20 percent will be used for 11 listed works to strengthen forest and wildlife protection related infrastructure.

 

  • The list includes third-party monitoring of works, forest certification, and development of certification standards and casual hiring of local people to assist forest department staff.

 

 

 

Forest Cover in India 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • According to India State of Forest Report (SFR) 2017, India posted a marginal 0.21 per cent rise in the area under forest between 2015 and 2017.

 

  • The report states that India has about 7, 08,273 sq kms of forest, which is 21.53 per cent  of the geographical area of the country.

 

  • The Indian Government aims to increase the area under forest cover in the nation to at least 33 per cent.

 

  • The total tree cover estimated in 2017 amounted to 93,815 sq kms, which records a 2 per cent rise from the approximately 92,500 sq kms estimated in 2015.

 

  • The report attributed the increase in forest cover to plantation and conservation activities both within and outside the Recorded Forest areas as well as an improvement in interpretation of satellite data.

 

  • Currently, 15 States and union territories have 33 per cent of their geographical area under forests.

 

  • However, in India’s north-east, forest cover showed a decrease in comparison to the assessment made in 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: jagranjosh