(a) whether Government is implementing any afforestation projects, and if so, the details of the projects;
(b) the details of the funds spent by the Government for implementation of these projects, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
(c) the extent to which the afforestation projects have achieved their objectives; and
(d) whether due to lack of monitoring efforts by the Government, afforestation activities have not been effective in the country and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) & (b) The Ministry of Environment and Forests is implementing the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme for afforestation of degraded forests in the country through people’s participation. The scheme is implemented through the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at the state level, Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the forest division level and the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level. The details of funds released to States including Andhra Pradesh are given at Annexure.
(c) The NAP scheme has been reviewed in the past which interalia revealed that it has contributed to forest cover increase in the country by giving thrust to the afforestation activity and has been successful in mobilizing people’s participation in forest management and development. The Scheme has also contributed in providing employment opportunity to the local people and reducing forest dependency among the vulnerable groups.
(d) The operational guidelines of NAP provide for a multi-level monitoring and third party evaluation through Ministry, SFDA and FDA. No plantation site is approved without corresponding geo-coordinates to facilitate monitoring by Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System.
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