Question : National Forest Policy

(a) whether the National Forest Policy (NFP) envisages one-third of the total land of the country under forest or tree cover as a national goal;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the total land under forest/tree in the country, as on date, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the Government has received representations/suggestions from various quarters including environmental activists over the fast depleting forest cover in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent depleting forest area and effective implementation of the NFP across the country?

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) The National Forest Policy, 1988 envisages to have a minimum of one-third of the total land area of the country under forest or tree cover.

(b) The State/UT wise details of forest cover of the country is given in Annexure.

(c) & (d) Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, a subordinate office of the Ministry has been carrying out the assessment of forest cover of the country using remote sensing technology. The findings are published in report titled India State Forest Report (ISFR). As per latest ISFR 2015, forest cover of the country has shown an increase of 3,775 sq km over the previous assessment in ISFR 2013.

(e) To increase the forest cover in the country, afforestation programme is taken up under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as National Afforestation Programme (NAP), Green India Mission (GIM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). National Afforestation Programme (NAP) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for afforestation and tree plantation and eco-restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas through people’s participation in the country. The scheme is being implemented through a decentralized mechanism of State Forest Development agency (SFDA) at State Level, Forest Development agency (FDA) at Forest Division level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at Village level. In addition, the State Governments also take up several afforestation programmes to enhance and enrich forest cover of the country.

The Ministry also provides Grants-in-aid to the States/ Union Territories Governments for protection and management of forests under Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS). The aim of the scheme is to supplement the efforts of the States and Union Territories towards protection and management of forests. The Funds under the scheme are utilized for purchase of vehicles for patrolling of the forests, establishment of camps, watch towers for detection and monitoring of forest fires, creation and maintenance of fire lines, survey and demarcation of forest areas and strengthening forest infrastructure etc.

***