Afforestation schemes in India represent the country's systematic effort to increase forest and tree cover — a critical component of climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and tribal livelihood support.
India aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forests and trees by 2030 under its Paris Agreement NDC. Questions on scheme names, implementing ministries, launch years, targets, and key features appear regularly in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, State PSC, and all government recruitment exams under Environment, Ecology, and Government Schemes.
⚡ Quick Facts
- India's total forest and tree cover = ~80.9 million hectares (~24.62% of geographic area) — as per ISFR 2023.
- Green India Mission (GIM) is one of 8 National Missions under NAPCC — targeting treatment of 5 million hectares of degraded forest/non-forest land.
- CAMPA (CAMPA Act 2016) manages funds collected from industries that divert forest land — corpus is ₹50,000+ crore; channelled for afforestation elsewhere.
- India's NDC target: create additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂e through forests and trees by 2030.
- Van Mahotsav (Festival of Trees) was started by K.M. Munshi in 1950; held in the first week of July (monsoon planting season) — oldest post-independence afforestation campaign.
Highest forest cover by AREA = Madhya Pradesh (~77,073 sq. km). Highest forest cover by PERCENTAGE = Mizoram (~85%). These are two different answers for two different questions — don't confuse them. CAMPA Act = 2016 (NOT 1980 — Forest Conservation Act is 1980). Forest Rights Act = 2006 (NOT 1972 — Wildlife Protection Act is 1972). Van Mahotsav = K.M. Munshi (NOT Nehru; NOT Indira Gandhi). Green India Mission = NAPCC (NOT NDC directly).
✅ My Progress Tracker
🌳 Afforestation & Forest Conservation Schemes — Complete List
| # ↕ | Scheme ↕ | Ministry ↕ | Launched ↕ | Category ↕ | Key Objective & Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Mission for a Green India (GIM) | MoEFCC | 2011–12 | MoEFCC / NAPCC | One of 8 National Missions under NAPCC; target: treat 5 million hectares of degraded forest + non-forest land; dual goal: mitigation + adaptation + livelihoods |
| 2 | CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund) | MoEFCC | 2016 (CAMPA Act) | MoEFCC / Fund | CAMPA Act 2016; funded by industries diverting forest land under Forest Conservation Act 1980; corpus ₹50,000+ crore; channelled to state CAMPAs for afforestation |
| 3 | National Afforestation Programme (NAP) | MoEFCC | 2000 | MoEFCC | Afforestation of degraded forest land through JFM (Joint Forest Management); village forest committees = community participation model |
| 4 | Nagar Van Scheme (Urban Forests) | MoEFCC | 2020 | Urban Forestry | Create 200 Urban Forests across 100 Indian cities by 2025; convert public spaces to biodiversity-rich urban forests |
| 5 | Forest Fire Prevention & Management (FPM) Scheme | MoEFCC | 2017 | MoEFCC | Prevent and manage forest fires; National Forest Fire Danger Rating System; FSI (Forest Survey of India) monitors fire alerts |
| 6 | National REDD+ Strategy | MoEFCC | 2018 | MoEFCC / UNFCCC | Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation; submitted to UNFCCC; enables carbon credits from India's forests |
| 7 | Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam | PMO / MoEFCC | 2024 | Recent / National Drive | PM Modi launched (2024); plant one tree in mother's name; target 140 crore trees (matching India's population); viral national plantation campaign |
| 8 | Har Ghar Hariyali / Tree Plantation Drives | MoEFCC + States | 2019 onwards | MoEFCC | Mass plantation campaigns; includes annual Van Mahotsav (K.M. Munshi, 1950, first week of July — Festival of Trees) |
| 9 | Aravalli Green Wall Project | MoEFCC + 4 States | Announced 2023 | Recent / Regional | 5 km green buffer along ~1,400 km Aravalli range (Gujarat to Delhi); fight desertification and Delhi dust; part of Great Green Wall concept |
| 10 | Tree Outside Forest in India (TOFI) | MoEFCC / FSI | Ongoing | MoEFCC | Increase tree cover outside notified forests — farms, roadsides, wastelands; counted in ISFR; ~9.29 million hectares tree cover outside official forests |
| 11 | Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) | Ministry of Agriculture | 2016–17 | Agriculture | Promote trees on farm lands; part of NMSA (National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture); farmer income + ecosystem benefits |
| 12 | National Bamboo Mission (NBM) | Ministry of Agriculture | 2018 (restructured) | Agriculture / Tribal | Bamboo = "Green Gold"; bamboo removed from "tree" definition under Indian Forest Act (2017 amendment); promotes plantation + value chain + tribal livelihoods |
| 13 | Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) | Ministry of Tribal Affairs (TRIFED) | 2018 | Tribal / Livelihood | Tribal livelihoods through Minor Forest Produce (MFP) value addition; 3,000 VDVKs; tribals = forest protectors; conservation through livelihood incentive |
| 14 | PM Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana | Ministry of Tribal Affairs | 2014 | Tribal / Livelihood | Holistic development of tribal areas including forest-based livelihoods; tribals as forest protectors = conservation incentive |
| 15 | Medicinal Plants Mission (NMPB) | Ministry of AYUSH | 2015 | AYUSH / Conservation | National Medicinal Plants Board; cultivate and conserve medicinal plants; 1 lakh hectares; traditional medicine resource conservation |
| 16 | Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) | Dept. of Land Resources (MoRD) | 2009 | Watershed / Integrated | Watershed restoration including tree planting on degraded lands; ~55 million hectares; combines afforestation + water conservation + livelihoods |
| 17 | Miyawaki Plantation (Urban) | Urban Local Bodies / NGOs | 2018 onwards (India) | Urban Forestry | Japanese technique (Akira Miyawaki); dense native species; 30× faster growth than conventional planting; adopted in Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad |
| 18 | Eco-Restoration of Degraded Lands | NABARD + MoEFCC | Ongoing | MoEFCC / NABARD | Restore degraded wastelands and catchment areas through tree planting; part of watershed + NABARD's Rural Infrastructure Development Fund |
| # | Mission | Ministry | Climate Focus | Key Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Solar Mission | MNRE | Mitigation (solar) | 100 GW solar by 2022 (achieved); now 500 GW by 2030 |
| 2 | National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency | Bureau of Energy Efficiency | Mitigation (efficiency) | Reduce energy intensity of the economy |
| 3 | National Mission on Sustainable Habitat | Housing + Urban Affairs | Mitigation + Adaptation | Energy-efficient buildings; urban planning |
| 4 | National Water Mission | Ministry of Jal Shakti | Adaptation (water) | Integrated water management; 20% efficiency improvement |
| 5 | National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem | DST | Adaptation (Himalayan ecology) | Glaciers, biodiversity, ecosystem services |
| 6 | National Mission for a Green India (GIM) | MoEFCC | Mitigation + Adaptation | 5 million hectares forest treatment; carbon sink + livelihood |
| 7 | National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) | Ministry of Agriculture | Adaptation (agriculture) | Climate-resilient agriculture; soil health; SMAF under NMSA |
| 8 | National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change | DST | Cross-cutting | Research, data, institutional capacity for climate action |
"Solar Energy Habitat Water Himalaya Green Agriculture Knowledge"
S = Solar | E = Energy Efficiency | H = Habitat | W = Water | Hi = Himalayan | G = Green India | A = Agriculture | K = Knowledge
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded by | K.M. Munshi (Union Agriculture and Food Minister, India) |
| Year started | 1950 |
| When held | First week of July every year (onset of southwest monsoon) |
| Name meaning | "Festival of Trees" in Sanskrit |
| Purpose | Annual plantation festival; plant trees during monsoon onset = best season for sapling survival |
| Significance | Oldest afforestation campaign in independent India; pre-dates all modern schemes |
| Scale | Crores of trees planted each year; school children, government employees, and citizens participate |
| Exam fact | K.M. Munshi started Van Mahotsav in 1950 (not Nehru, not Indira Gandhi); held in July |
| Category | Area (million hectares) | % of Geographic Area | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Forest Cover (notified) | 71.61 | 21.76% | Officially notified forest areas |
| Tree Cover (outside forests) | 9.29 | 2.82% | TOFI — farms, roadsides, wastelands |
| Total Forest + Tree Cover | 80.9 | 24.62% | India's total green cover |
| Very Dense Forest | 9.93 | 3.02% | Canopy density >70% |
| Moderately Dense Forest | 31.75 | 9.65% | Canopy density 40–70% |
| Open Forest | 29.93 | 9.10% | Canopy density 10–40% |
| Mangrove Cover | 0.48 | 0.15% | Coastal mangroves; slowly increasing |
| NDC Forest Target | Additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂e carbon sink | By 2030 (Paris Agreement NDC) | |
| State Category | State | Data |
|---|---|---|
| Highest forest cover by AREA | Madhya Pradesh | ~77,073 sq. km — AREA exam answer |
| Highest forest cover by PERCENTAGE | Mizoram (~85%) | Followed by Arunachal Pradesh (~79%), Meghalaya (~76%) — PERCENTAGE exam answer |
| States gaining forest cover | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha | Afforestation + regeneration |
| States losing forest cover | Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland | Shifting cultivation + development pressure |
| Law / Authority | Year | Purpose | Key Provision / Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Forest Act | 1927 | Classification of forests; regulation of forest use | Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, Village Forests — three categories |
| Forest Conservation Act (FCA) | 1980 | Prevent diversion of forest land without central approval | Section 2 = prior Central Govt approval needed for any diversion; CAMPA funds collected under this Act |
| Wildlife Protection Act | 1972 | Protect wildlife and habitats; national parks + sanctuaries | Schedules I–VI; basis for Project Tiger, Project Elephant; most protected animals under Schedule I |
| Forest Rights Act (FRA) | 2006 | Recognise rights of tribal communities over forest land | 4 types of rights; gram sabha empowered; reversing historical injustice; ST and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers |
| Environment Protection Act | 1986 | Umbrella legislation for environmental protection | Empowers Central Govt to take all environmental protection measures; EIA under this Act |
| CAMPA Act | 2016 | Statutory framework for Compensatory Afforestation Fund | ₹50,000+ crore corpus; state CAMPAs + national CAMPA; use for afforestation + eco-restoration |
| Forest Survey of India (FSI) | Est. 1981 | Biennial survey of India's forest cover | Publishes ISFR (India State of Forest Report) every 2 years; uses satellite data |
⚖️ Compare Two Schemes
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
When any industry or infrastructure project (highway, dam, mine) requires diversion of forest land, it must pay into the Compensatory Afforestation Fund — managed by CAMPA. This fund is used for afforestation and eco-restoration elsewhere. The CAMPA Act 2016 gave it a statutory basis. Key distinctions: Forest Conservation Act 1980 = requires central approval for forest diversion; CAMPA = manages the compensation fund; ₹50,000+ crore collected as of 2024. Funds flow to State CAMPAs for implementation on degraded non-forest land.
GIM is one of India's eight National Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Launched in 2012, it aims to protect, restore, and enhance India's forest ecosystem by treating 5 million hectares of degraded forest and non-forest land. Its dual mandate = climate mitigation (carbon sequestration) + adaptation (livelihood improvement for forest communities). GIM works through JFM (Joint Forest Management) committees involving local communities. Mnemonic for 8 NAPCC missions: "Solar Energy Habitat Water Himalaya Green Agriculture Knowledge".
Van Mahotsav (Festival of Trees) was started by K.M. Munshi in 1950 — making it India's oldest afforestation initiative in the post-independence era. Held in the first week of July each year to coincide with the onset of the southwest monsoon — the best season for sapling survival. K.M. Munshi was India's first Agriculture and Food Minister. Common exam trap: students often attribute it to Nehru or Indira Gandhi — the correct answer is K.M. Munshi, 1950, July.
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (One Tree in Mother's Name) was launched by PM Modi in 2024 — a nationwide plantation drive asking every Indian to plant a tree in their mother's name. With a target of 140 crore trees (matching India's population), it became a viral social media campaign linking afforestation with personal and emotional motivation. This is the most recent major plantation scheme and will appear frequently in 2025–26 competitive exam current affairs and environment sections.
India's updated NDC (2022) commits to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂e through forests and trees by 2030. Current cover = ~80.9 million hectares (24.62% of geographic area — ISFR 2023). Classic exam trap — two different answers: Highest forest cover by AREA = Madhya Pradesh (~77,073 sq. km). Highest forest cover by PERCENTAGE = Mizoram (~85%), followed by Arunachal Pradesh (~79%) and Meghalaya (~76%). Both appear in exams — read the question carefully.
8 NAPCC Missions:
"Solar Energy Habitat Water Himalaya Green Agriculture Knowledge"
Key forest laws chain:
"FSI surveys | CAMPA compensates | GIM greens | FCA 1980 protects | FRA 2006 empowers tribals"
Van Mahotsav:
"Van Mahotsav = K.M. Munshi + 1950 + July + Festival of Trees"
Forest cover exam trap:
"MP = Maximum Patch (highest area) | Mizoram = Maximum % (highest percentage)"
🃏 Flashcards
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🧩 Practice Quiz
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CAMPA was given statutory backing by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (CAMPA Act) of 2016. Its funds come from industries, infrastructure projects (dams, roads, mines), and other users who divert forest land to non-forest purposes under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 — they must pay into the fund. These funds are then deployed for afforestation and eco-restoration on degraded non-forest land. CAMPA has accumulated over ₹50,000 crore.
The Green India Mission (National Mission for a Green India) is one of eight National Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), launched in 2012. Its primary target is the treatment and restoration of 5 million hectares of forest and non-forest degraded land. It has a dual mandate: climate mitigation (carbon sequestration) and adaptation (improved livelihoods for forest-dependent communities).
Van Mahotsav (Festival of Trees) was initiated by K.M. Munshi, India's first Union Agriculture and Food Minister, in 1950 — making it one of the oldest afforestation campaigns in independent India. It is held in the first week of July every year to coincide with the onset of the southwest monsoon. School children, government employees, and citizens participate in massive tree-planting drives.
India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC, 2022) commits to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forests and trees by 2030. India's current forest and tree cover is approximately 80.9 million hectares (24.62% of geographic area — ISFR 2023). Reaching the NDC target requires significant afforestation and forest restoration.
Madhya Pradesh has the highest total forest cover area in India at approximately 77,073 sq. km — the largest absolute forest area of any state. However, in terms of forest cover as a percentage of the state's geographic area, Mizoram leads with approximately 85%, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (~79%) and Meghalaya (~76%). This distinction is a classic exam trap — always check whether the question asks for area or percentage.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) is India's mechanism to ensure that when forest land is diverted for non-forest uses (like building a dam, road, or mine), compensatory afforestation is carried out elsewhere. Under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, any diversion of forest land requires prior approval from the central government and payment into the Compensatory Afforestation Fund. The CAMPA Act 2016 gave statutory basis to this fund, which has accumulated over ₹50,000 crore. These funds are channelled to state CAMPAs for planting trees on degraded non-forest land and restoring ecosystems.
The National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of India's eight National Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Launched in 2012, it aims to protect, restore, and enhance India's forest and tree cover by treating 5 million hectares of degraded forest and non-forest land. Its dual mandate covers both climate mitigation (increasing carbon sequestration through forests) and adaptation (improving livelihoods of forest-dependent communities). GIM works through Joint Forest Management (JFM) committees, involving local communities in forest restoration and protection.
According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India's total forest and tree cover is approximately 80.9 million hectares — about 24.62% of India's total geographic area. Of this, actual notified forest cover is 71.61 million hectares (21.76%) and tree cover outside forests is 9.29 million hectares. India's updated NDC (2022) commits to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent through forests and trees by 2030. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest area; Mizoram has the highest percentage of state area under forests (~85%).
Afforestation schemes appear in UPSC Prelims (Environment + Economy), SSC CGL, Banking PO, State PSC, and Forest Service exams. Common patterns include: CAMPA (compensatory fund, CAMPA Act 2016), Green India Mission (NAPCC mission, 5 million ha), Van Mahotsav (K.M. Munshi, 1950, July), Nagar Van (200 urban forests, 2020), Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (2024, PM Modi), India's NDC forest target (2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ by 2030), state with highest forest cover by area (MP) vs by percentage (Mizoram), Forest Conservation Act 1980, Forest Rights Act 2006, and India's total forest cover (~24.62%). This page covers all major afforestation GK patterns for 2026 exams.
