The National Mission for a Green India

The National Mission for a Green India

Context:

  • India is lagging behind in the targets to increase the number and quality of tree and forest cover plantations set in the Green India Mission, according to data accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

About:

  • The National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
  • Its objectives include addressing climate change and preserving, restoring, and improving India’s forest cover.
  • 10 million hectares (mha) of forest and non-forest lands are the target area under the Mission in order to increase the amount of trees and improve the quality of existing forests.
  • India’s international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions call for the country to increase forest cover in order to store carbon and strengthen its carbon stocks.

What is the status?

  • The Center approved a target of from 2015–16 to 2021–22 based on proposals from 17 States.
  • 53,377 hectares more of trees and forest were planted, while 1,66,656 hectares of degraded forest had their quality improved.
  • In response to questions from Govindan Nampoothiry, an RTI activist based in Kerala, the Environment Ministry this month provided figures from 17 States showing that, as of December 31, 2022, tree/forest cover had increased by 26,287 hectares and forest quality had improved in only 1,02,096 hectares.
  • According to the research, over 33% of 17 States and Union Territories’ area covered by trees.
  • The state with the most forest cover was Madhya Pradesh, which was followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
  • Mizoram (84.53%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), Meghalaya (76%), Manipur (74.34%), and Nagaland (73.9%) were the top five States in terms of the proportion of their total geographic area that was covered by forests.

Source The Hindu

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