(a) the number of trees planted under the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) along with the funds released and utilised in this regard during each of the last three years and the current year, State and species-wise;
(b) whether the Government has any proposal to encourage the farmers to plant timberwood/teak trees in their fields and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
(c) the steps proposed to be taken to increase the plantation of trees in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a, b & c) The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) is implementing a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme “National Afforestation Programme (NAP)” for regeneration of degraded forests through people’s participation. Afforestation under NAP is taken up under seven different plantation models with generally mixed species wherein number of plants varies from 200 plants per hectare to 2000 plants per hectare. The tree species to be planted is selected by the local people on the basis of their needs, eco- logical conditions and other local factors in consul- tation with the State Forest Department. While the species-wise details are not maintained in the Ministry, the details of funds released and area taken up for afforestation in the States for the last three years and current year are given in Annexure.
MoEF&CC does not have any specific scheme to encourage timberwood/teak plantations in farm lands. However in the National Mission for Green India (GIM), which aims to increase forest & tree cover on 5 million ha area and improve quality of forest cover on another 5 million ha area, about 2.3 million hectare is envisaged for Agro-Forestry.
In addition to NAP, afforestation/tree plantation activities are also taken up cross sectorally under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes of other Ministries and also under diffe- rent State Plan/Non plan schemes in country.