Why in News?

• The Governing Body of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, approved several major biodiversity conservation initiatives during its 7th meeting held in Coimbatore on 10 July 2026.
• The meeting approved four new national wildlife conservation projects, extended support for Sangai conservation, launched a new scheme for protecting sacred groves, reviewed compensatory afforestation progress across India, and expanded mangrove restoration efforts.

Key Highlights

CAMPA Approves Four New National Conservation Projects

Four major species-specific conservation programmes received approval.

These projects were recommended by the Executive Committee of National CAMPA before receiving final approval.

What is CAMPA?

CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) is the statutory authority responsible for managing funds collected from agencies diverting forest land for non-forest purposes.

It ensures that ecological losses caused by forest diversion are compensated through afforestation, restoration, and wildlife conservation activities.

Objectives of CAMPA

• Compensatory Afforestation: To create new forests to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.
• Wildlife Conservation: To protect endangered species and strengthen their habitats through conservation measures.
• Forest Restoration: To restore degraded forests and improve their ecological health and productivity.
• Catchment Treatment: To reduce soil erosion and improve water retention in river and reservoir catchment areas.
• Assisted Natural Regeneration: To support the natural recovery of forests through protection and scientific management.
• Biodiversity Conservation: To conserve native flora, fauna, and ecosystems while maintaining ecological balance.
• Soil and Water Conservation: To prevent land degradation, conserve soil, and enhance groundwater recharge.
• Forest Fire Prevention: To reduce the incidence and impact of forest fires through infrastructure, monitoring, and awareness.
• Eco-restoration: To rehabilitate damaged ecosystems and restore their natural ecological functions and biodiversity.

What is Net Present Value (NPV) ?

Whenever forest land is diverted for projects like roads, mines, dams or industries, the user agency must pay:

• Cost of compensatory afforestation
• Net Present Value (NPV)

NPV represents the economic value of ecological services lost due to forest diversion. These funds are managed under CAMPA.

Why is this Important ?

The decisions reflect a shift from plantation-centric forestry towards landscape-level ecosystem restoration and species-specific conservation. The approval of dedicated projects for river dolphins, snow leopards, rhinos, and wild water buffalo strengthens India's commitment to achieving the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while initiatives such as Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, GIS-based monitoring, mangrove restoration, and urban forestry promote technology-driven and community-led conservation.

Project-wise Details

1. River Dolphin Conservation Project

Objective

Prepare India's first comprehensive Recovery Action Plan for river dolphins.

Focus Areas 

• Population assessment
• Habitat mapping
• River health monitoring
• Threat identification
• Conservation corridors
• Pollution assessment
• Community participation

Importance

River dolphins are considered indicators of healthy freshwater ecosystems.

Species Covered

• Gangetic River Dolphin
• Indus River Dolphin (limited distribution)

2. Project Snow Leopard Phase-II

This is the second phase of India's flagship high-altitude conservation programme.

3. Indian Rhinoceros Conservation Action Plan

Objective

Strengthen conservation of India's one-horned rhinoceros

.

4. Wild Water Buffalo Conservation Programme

India approved its first Pan-India Conservation Approach

Continued Support for Sangai Conservation

CAMPA also approved continued funding for the conservation of Sangai, the famous brow-antlered deer of Manipur.

Why Important ?

• State Animal of Manipur
• Found naturally only in Keibul Lamjao National Park
• Lives on floating biomass called Phumdis
• Critically important endemic species

Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana

One of the biggest announcements of the meeting.

Features

• Initial corpus: ₹3,000 crore
• Duration: 2026–27 to 2030–31
• Target: Conservation of 15,000 Sacred Groves

Why Sacred Groves Matter ?

Sacred groves act as:

• Biodiversity Hotspots: They provide habitat for a rich variety of plant and animal species, including many endemic and threatened species.
• Gene Banks: They preserve the genetic diversity of native flora and fauna, ensuring long-term species survival.
• Carbon Sinks: They absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, helping mitigate climate change.
• Water Conservation Sites: They protect watersheds, improve groundwater recharge, and regulate the natural water cycle.
• Climate Buffers: They moderate local temperatures, reduce the impacts of extreme weather events, and enhance ecosystem resilience.

CAMPA GIS Lab

The Governing Body reviewed the establishment of a dedicated GIS Monitoring Laboratory.

Purpose

The GIS Lab will monitor:

• Compensatory afforestation
• Forest restoration
• CAMPA-funded projects
• NPV utilisation

Technologies Used

• Satellite imagery
• GIS Mapping
• Field verification
• Digital dashboards
• Geo-tagging

Benefits

• Transparency
• Real-time monitoring
• Scientific evaluation
• Better accountability

Digital Annual Plan System

States and Union Territories will now submit their Annual Plans of Operation (APOs) exclusively through an online portal.

Expected Benefits

• Faster approvals
• Better transparency
• Uniform reporting
• Improved fund utilisation

Mangrove Restoration Gets Major Boost

The Governing Body reviewed progress under the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI).

• ₹88.40 crore released
• Six States/UTs covered
• Programme extended till 2029
• Additional allocation: ₹500 crore
• Total Outlay: ₹600 crore

Objectives

• Coastal Ecosystem Restoration: Restores degraded mangroves and coastal habitats to improve ecological health and biodiversity.
• Climate Resilience: Strengthens the ability of coastal ecosystems and communities to withstand cyclones, sea-level rise, and climate change.
• Livelihood Enhancement: Supports income and employment opportunities for coastal communities through sustainable resource management.
• Carbon Sequestration: Captures and stores atmospheric carbon in mangrove ecosystems, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nagar Van Yojana Progress

CAMPA reviewed progress of urban forestry.

Achievements

• 652 Nagar Vans/Vatikas developed
• Funds released: ₹571.50 crore

CAMPA Fund Review

• The Governing Body reviewed:
  • Net Present Value (NPV) collections
  • Compensatory afforestation activities
  • Fund transfers
  • State-wise utilisation
  • Annual Plan implementation

Conclusion

The recent CAMPA decisions reflect India's shift from compensatory afforestation to ecosystem-based biodiversity conservation through species-specific projects, technology-driven monitoring, and community participation. For UPSC Prelims, aspirants should focus on CAMPA, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, flagship conservation projects, and protected species. For GS Paper III (Environment), the topic is important for themes such as forest governance, ecological restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable development. It can also be linked with India's commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it highly relevant for both UPSC and State PCS examinations.

Exam Facts

• CAMPA is a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 provides the legal framework for CAMPA.
• National CAMPA manages funds collected from the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
• Net Present Value (NPV) is the monetary value paid to compensate for the loss of ecological services of forests.
• Gangetic River Dolphin is India's National Aquatic Animal and is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Snow Leopard is found in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros is found mainly in Assam, with smaller populations in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
• Wild Water Buffalo is the State Animal of Chhattisgarh and is classified as Endangered by the IUCN.
• Sangai (Brow-Antlered Deer) is the State Animal of Manipur and is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world's only floating national park.
• Sacred Groves are community-protected forest patches that conserve biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge.
• MISHTI stands for Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes.
• Nagar Van Yojana aims to develop urban forests to improve green cover and urban biodiversity.
• ICFRE (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education) is an autonomous body under MoEFCC that promotes forestry research and education.

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