Afforestation

India among top 3 countries in most significant forest area gains: FAO

India gained 2,66,000 hectares of forest area annually from 2010 to 2020, securing the third spot among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains during this period, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The report, released on Monday, said that China led the world with the maximum forest area gain of 1,937,000 hectares, followed by Australia with 4,46,000 hectares, and then India. Other countries in the top 10 include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania. The UN agency praised India for its efforts in restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry through innovative approaches. This includes the development of a new national policy aimed at better supporting agroforestry in the country. The report highlighted a significant reduction in deforestation in some countries. For example, Indonesia saw an 8.4 per cent decline in deforestation from 2021 to 2022, while Brazil's Amazon experienced

Indore creates world record, plants 1.1 million saplings in a day

Indore on Sunday set a new Guinness World Record in the category of "the most trees planted by a team in 24 hours" by planting more than 11 lakh saplings. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that Indore, already the cleanest city in India and the economic capital of Madhya Pradesh, has now achieved the world record of planting more than 11 lakh saplings in a single day. The programme was organised by the state government. "Indore is now number 1 in the world. My brothers and sisters of Indore, I congratulate you all for creating history in the plantation after cleanliness," Yadav said in a post on his official X account while sharing the Guinness World Records certificate and pictures of receiving it. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and planted a sapling. The "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 5 to mark World Environment Day. Under this drive, approximately 140 crore tr

'Over 5 mn large farmland trees vanished in India between 2018 and 2022'

More than 50 lakh large farmland trees vanished between 2018 and 2022 in India, partly due to altered cultivation practices, revealing a "concerning trajectory," new research published in the journal Nature Sustainability has found. Researchers said that "an observable trend was emerging" wherein agroforestry systems are being replaced with paddy rice fields, even as a certain loss rate could be found to be natural. Large and mature trees within these agroforestry fields are removed, and trees are now being cultivated within separate block plantations typically with lower ecological value, they said. Block plantations, usually involving fewer species of trees, were found to have increased in numbers which some villagers from Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra and other states confirmed via interviews. The team, including researchers from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, explained that the decision to remove trees is often driven by perceived low benefits of the trees, coupled wi

International Day of Forests 2024: All about importance of greenery in life

World Forest Day 2024 is marked internationally on 21 March 2024. It intends to bring issues to light of the value of forests and their various advantages in our society

88% area of Jamuna open cast project of Coal India's SECL reclaimed: Centre

The government on Monday said 88.07 per cent of the area of Jamuna open cast project of Coal India arm SECL has been reclaimed. The government has also taken steps towards environmental stewardship with its sustained reclamation and afforestation initiative, aiming to minimize the ecological footprints of coal mining. The Jamuna OCP (Open Cast Project) in Madhya Pradesh of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) stopped mining in June 2014, on account of resource depletion. "Following this, a meticulously planned mine closure was initiated. According to recent satellite data, 88.07 per cent of the quarry area has been successfully reclaimed, showcasing the Ministry's commitment to sustainable coal mining practices," the coal ministry said in a statement. A substantial portion of the reclaimed land which covers 672 hectares, has been dedicated to afforestation efforts. "This initiative is a testament to the Coal Ministry's commitment to sustainable development and responsible resou

Arunachal undertakes afforestation in 16,560 hectares under CAMPA: Minister

The Arunachal Pradesh government has carried out afforestation programme in 16,560.46 hectare of land in the state during 2022-23 under Compensatory Afforestation Fund and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme, the state assembly was informed on Tuesday. Responding to a question raised on the second day of the monsoon session of the assembly by Congress MLA Wangling Lowangdong, Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung informed that, an amount of Rs 196.93 crore was sanctioned by the national authority (CAMPA) under the environment, forest and climate change ministry to the state for the year 2022-23. The minister informed that under the compensatory afforestation component, preparatory works were undertaken in 2,986.23 hectare, creation of plantations in 4,459.16 hectare and maintenance of plantations in 24,177.35 hectare of land in the state during 2022-23. Under the catchment area treatment plan component, the creation of plantations w

Assam govt announces 10 mn sapling planting drive with cash prize

Urging people to participate in the sapling planting drive in large numbers, the Chief Minister announced a cash prize for the initiative

3.12 cr saplings, 5% above target, were planted in Delhi-NCR in 2022-23

Around 3.12 crore saplings, over 5 per cent more than the target, were planted in Delhi-NCR in 2022-23, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Tuesday. It said around 3.57 crore saplings will be planted this year (2023-24) in Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Of this, around 95 lakh saplings will be planted in Delhi. Around 88 lakh saplings will be planted in Haryana, 23 lakh saplings in Rajasthan and 1.52 crore saplings will be planted in Uttar Pradesh. The Centre's air quality panel said Delhi planted over 39 lakh saplings in 2022-23, which was around 24 per cent more than the target. Authorities in Haryana planted around 88 lakh saplings against the target of 85 lakh, Rajasthan planted 10.58 lakh and Uttar Pradesh 1.73 crore.

Jharkhand to plant 10 mn saplings next year, says Guv Radhakrishnan

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Monday said 1 crore saplings would be planted in the state next year. Addressing a gathering here on the occasion of World Environment Day, he said 10 per cent of the saplings would be of neem. "There is a target to plant 1 crore saplings in the state next year. Of that, 10 per cent will be of neem and the remaining 90 per cent will be of fruit-bearing trees so that fruits are available to the people free of cost," he said. This would be a meaningful step in the direction of nutrition for the people along with environment protection, he said. The governor said that Jharkhand is a symbol of greenery, where people worship trees. Emphasising the need to protect the environment, he said that more than 50 saplings were planted in Raj Bhavan on the occasion of World Environment Day. "Our environment is being polluted by the use of plastics. Whenever we go to the market, we should carry bags and not use plastics," he said.

Refex Group commits to plant 100,000 trees across TN in next few years

Diversified business conglomerate Refex Group, which is engaged in refrigerant gases, ash, and coal handling, has pledged to plant one lakh trees across Tamil Nadu over the next few years under its 'Trees for Life' initiative, the company said on Monday. Commemorating 'World Environment Day' being observed on June 5 every year, the group has committed towards planting 10,000 trees this year, in partnership with the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Greater Chennai Corporation. Nearly 2,000 tree saplings were planted as part of launching the initiative in the city today, a company statement said. "By using resources in a responsible and efficient manner, we can help conserve them for our future generations. In addition to infusing sustainable practices into our operations, our sustainability strategies also aim to arrest climate change and lead to ecosystem restoration. The 'Trees for Life' project is one such initiative," Refex Group Managing Director Anil Jain said. Minister for Yo

Odisha creates 2,600 acres land bank for compensatory afforestation

Odisha govt has created a land bank of around 26,000 acres of land for Compensatory Afforestation (CA) across the state, official sources said.

Forest cover declined by 22.62 sq km in 52 tiger reserves in 10 yrs: Study

The India State of Forests Report (ISFR) 2021 was released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav

Uttarakhand CM Rawat urges centre to approve Rs 262 crore CAMPA scheme

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met Union Forest and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi and urged the Centre to approve the Rs 262 crore CAMPA scheme

Increasing green cover

Ambiguity in the definition of forests should be removed

NLC India to invest Rs 17k cr in developing Talabira, to plant 2.6 mn trees

The public sector undertaking has already deposited Rs 134.36 crore to Odisha Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) account.

Coal Min to set up 'Sustainable Development Cell' to address green concerns

The cell will also formulate the future policy framework for environmental mitigation measures, including the Mine closure Fund.

Govt working on satellite mechanism to monitor forestation, says Javadekar

In August this year, the Environment minister handed over Rs 47,436 crore of CAMPA funds to various states for the promotion of afforestation and achieving green objective of the country.

Mumbaikars providing ready-to-grow seed balls to check depletion of forest

Chitra Chauhan set up Beej Box (BB), a platform that provides 10 seed balls for Rs 100, which need to be chucked in the soil to grow a plant

Letter to BS: Afforestation is not an immediate measure to reduce emission

Official commitments before international forums have to be made with caution as the European Union and the United States have a hidden economic and political agenda

Govt gives over Rs 47K-cr to 27 states for afforestation, green activities

The minister said the corpus will be utilised for compensatory afforestation, wildlife management, forest fire prevention, soil and moisture conservation works in forests