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New Delhi : Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on August 17, 2020, said that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is focused on enhancing forest quality and increasing tree cover for maximizing carbon stock.He was speaking at the States Forest Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi.
Minister of State in the Environment Ministry Babul Supriyo, other officials in the Ministry, Chief Ministers of the State of Arunachal Pradesh and Goa, Deputy Chief Ministers and 24 Forest Ministers from various States participated in the four-hour long meeting held via video conferencing.
Javadekar said, “We have taken many initiatives to bring out transformational changes in our policies and programmes and implement several schemes which includes massive tree plantation, promoting urban forestry through Nagar Van Scheme, Landscape based catchment treatment of 13 major rivers, LiDAR based survey of degraded forest areas for soil moisture conservation projects and launch of National Transit Portal to facilitate smooth movement of Forest produce.”
These efforts are critical to meet our national and international goals under National Forest Policy, Nationally Determined Commitments, and restoration of degraded forest land, said Javadekar, according to a PIB release.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his independence day speech, had announced the launch of Project Lion and Project Dolphin. The Union Environment Minister said that the government will launch a holistic Project Dolphin in a fortnight for the conservation and protection of the Dolphins in the rivers and in oceans of the country.
Project Dolphin will involve conservation of Dolphins and the aquatic habitat through use of modern technology specially in enumeration and anti-poaching activities. The project will engage the fishermen and other river/ ocean dependent population and will strive for improving the livelihood of the local communities. The conservation of Dolphin will also envisage activities which will also help in the mitigation of pollution in rivers and in the oceans.
Javadekar also stated that the government is working towards the Project Lion that will involve conservation of the Asiatic Lion and its landscape in a holistic manner. The Project Lion will entail habitat development, engage modern technologies in Lion management, and address the issues of disease in Lion and its associated species through advanced world-class research and veterinary care. The project will also address Human-wildlife conflict and will be inclusive involving local communities living in the vicinity of Lion landscape and will also provide livelihood opportunities.
He stressed that states should use CAMPA funds exclusively for afforestation and plantation. “I announce that 80% of afforestation fund shall be utilised only for afforestation/plantation and the rest 20% can be used for capacity building etc. The Centre in August 2019 released Rs 47,436 crore CAMPA funds for afforestation to various states. The Ministry is also going to announce implementation of School Nursery Scheme shortly, said Javadekar during the meeting.
The Nagar Van Scheme, which was announced on this World Environment Day for creation of 200 Nagar Van on forest land by adopting a collaborative approach involving various agencies like forest and other departments, NGOs, Corporate Bodies, Industries etc, was also discussed at the meeting. Initially, the Ministry will be giving grants for fencing and soil moisture works. The primary objective is to create forested area in cities.