(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that deforestation is a major cause of climate change and flash flood in Assam; and;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken to overcome this problem and to promote afforestation in the State?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) and (b) As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2017, the forest cover in Assam has increased by 567 sq. km from ISFR, 2015. Afforestation programs is undertaken in the State under various schemes to further enhance the forest cover in the State such as National Afforestation Programme (NAP) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), State CAMPA and Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) of Assam Government.
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