Highlights of Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change 1.2(2015)

INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE GREEN COVER:

• Two Schemes namely Nagar Vana Udyan Yojana and School Nursery Yojana have been launched. Nagar Vana Udyan Yojana aims to create at least one city forest in each city with a minimum area of 25 ha. The scheme aims at creation of a City Forest in forest areas within their jurisdiction up to a maximum of 100 ha and minimum area of 20 ha. The objective of the Yojana is to create 200 City Forests in the country.   The School Nursery Yojana aims to build a lasting bond of students with nature.
• Under Green India Mission (GIM), perspective plans and annual plans of operations of six States have been approved in the first sitting of the National Executive Council held in May 2015. The Green India Mission aims at increasing the forest/ tree cover by 5 million hectare as well as, increasing the quality of the existing forest cover in another 5 million hectare. An amount of Rs. 50.77 crore has been released to four States out of the fund allocation of Rs. 64 crore. At the second sitting of the National Executive Council held in November 2015, Perspective Plan and Annual Plan of Operations of another four States have been approved.
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA): To ensure expeditious utilisation in transparent and efficient manner, and safety and security of the accumulated amounts and fresh accruals, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill 2015 has been introduced in the Parliament. Enactment of the Bill will pave way for utilisation of the huge accumulated amount significantly contributing towards conservation and development of forest and wildlife.  Unspent balance available with the said ad-hoc body has increased to about Rs.38, 000 crore.

OTHER INITIATIVES:

• The International Day for Biodiversity celebrated across the nation on May 22, 2015. This year’s theme was ‘Biodiversity for Sustainable Development’. At the main event held in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, a project on Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) was launched.
• On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, planted a ‘Kadamb’ sapling at 7, Race Course Road.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and NOIDA for the development of Botanic Garden of Indian Republic (BGIR) in NOIDA on June 5, 2015 on the occasion of World Environment Day.  The Botanical Garden would also act as a centre for botanical research scholars to carry out studies on rare species of plants.  249 eco-sensitive proposals have been approved, which include 28 final notifications and 92 draft notifications.
• The final notification declaring Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Okhla bird sanctuary has been issued by Government of India in the Gazette of India vide S/o2262 (E) dated 19th August 2015, providing relief to lakhs of house owners in NOIDA and Greater NOIDA area.
• The Ministry has launched the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity TEEB-India Initiative (TII) to highlight the economic consequences of the loss of biological diversity and the associated decline in ecosystem services.
• A commemorative stamp released to mark the centenary year of Zoological Survey of India.
• The Ministry commemorated World Day to combat Desertification on June 17, 2015.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in association with UNESCO, has established a Centre for World Natural Heritage Management and Training for the Asia and Pacific Region as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
• ‘Chintan Shivir’ organised in Bangalore, Bhopal and Guwahati for young officers to enable the officers from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and officers from forest, pollution boards and scientists from the concerned departments to introspect and discuss various aspects related to the Ministry.