FOREST

MGNREGS:

          The Forest Department is practicing in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and taking up forestry operations in the Reserved Forest Areas and outside. Raising of Plantations, Soil & Moisture Conservation works and Habitat Improvement works are being taken up in the Vana Samrakshana Samithies areas and Forest areas. Raising of Nurseries and Plantations in farmers lands, Public Institutions and Community lands and raising of Avenue Plantations, etc., are being taken up by the Social Forestry wing outside the Reserved Forest Areas.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management And Planning Authority(CAMPA)

          The Forest is a complex ecosystem consisting mainly of trees that have formed a buffer for the earth to protect all life forms. The trees which make up the main area of the forests create a special environment which, in turn, effects the life of animals and plants that can exist in the forests.

          Andhra Pradesh state is bestowed with two mighty river systems of Krishna and Godavari. The State has wide and varied vegetation types enriched by a variety of flora and fauna. Its varied topography ranging from hills of Eastern Ghats and Nallamalais to the shores of Bay of Bengal, support varied eco-types which in turn support a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

          Many development and industrial projects such as erection of dams, mining activities, establishment of industries or laying of roads require diversion of forest land. For any project that involves diversion of forest land, Government or Private agency must apply for forest clearance before the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). If proposals for diversion of forest land which were submitted through the Forest Department of the State government in question, are cleared, then compensation for the lost forest land received towards Compensatory Afforestation (CA), Net Present Value(NPV), etc., is being deposited with Government of India and Compensatory afforestation programmes are being implemented in various states with each state having its own prescribed activities. Due to certain discrepancies in the implementation of Compensatory afforestation, some NGOs had approached the Hon’ble Supreme Court for relief. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in I.A.No.2143 in W.P.(C) No.202/95 on 10^th July 2009(Annexure-I ) issued orders that there will be a Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) with a National Advisory Council under the chairmanship of the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) for monitoring, technical assistance and evaluation of compensatory afforestation activities in the country.

Objectives of CAMPA

          Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA is meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest uses. National CAMPA Advisory Council has been established as per the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court with the following mandate:

 Regularly monitor and evaluate, in consultation with States, projects being undertaken by State CAMPAs.

 Facilitate scientific, technological and other assistance that may be required by State CAMPAs.

 Make recommendations to State CAMPA based on a review of their plans and programmes.

 Provide a mechanism to State CAMPAs to resolve issues of an inter-state or Centre-State  character.

 Shall have the powers to order special inspection and financial audit of works executed by the State CAMPA by utilizing CAMPA money.

State CAMPA

          The Hon’ble Supreme Court also approved the guidelines prepared by the MoEF for utilizing CAMPA funds by an agency to be constituted in the states and to be known as the State CAMPA . These guidelines were notified by the MoEF, Government of India on 2nd July,2009 ( Annexure-II ).

Some of the important points in the guidelines are:

 The State CAMPA would presently receive funds collected from user agencies towards  compensatory afforestation, additional compensatory afforestation, penal compensatory afforestation, Net Present Value (NPV) and all other amount recovered from such agencies under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and           presently lying with the Adhoc CAMPA.

 Lay down broad guidelines for State CAMPA and utilize the funds collected for undertaking compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, conservation    and protection of forests, infrastructure development, wildlife conservation and protection

 Facilitate scientific, technological and other assistance that may be required by State CAMPA and other related activities and for matters connected therewith or incidental   thereto.

 State CAMPA would provide an integrated framework for utilizing multiple sources for  funding and activities relating to protection and management of forests and wildlife.

 Its prime task would be regenerating natural forests and building up the institution   engaged in this work in the State Forest Department including training of the forest    officials of various levels with an emphasis on training of the staff at cutting edge  level The guidelines also talk about establishment of an independent system for     concurrent monitoring and evaluation of the works implemented in the States utilizing the funds available shall be evolved and implemented to ensure effective  and proper utilization of funds.

 The State CAMPA would administer the amount received from the Adhoc CAMPA.

Aims and Objectives of State CAMPA

State CAMPA shall seek to promote:

(a) conservation, protection, regeneration and management of existing natural forests;

(b) conservation, protection and management of wildlife and its habitat within and outside  protected areas including the consolidated of the protected areas;

(c) compensatory afforestation;

(d) environmental services, which include:-

          (i) Provision of goods such as wood, non-timber forest products, fuel, fodder and  water, and provision of services such as grazing tourism, wildlife protection  and life support;

          (ii) Regulating services such as climate regulation, disease control, flood, moderation, detoxification, carbon sequestration and health of soils, air and                 water regimes; (forest range level). In short, the

                   department would be modernized to protect and regenerate the forests and  wildlife habitat.

          (iii) Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems, spiritual, recreational,  aesthetic, inspirational, educational and symbolic; and

          (iv) Supporting such other services necessary for the production of ecosystem  services, biodiversity, nutrient cycling and primary production, Research, training and capacity building.

          In sum, the prime task of State CAMPA would be regenerating natural forests and building up the institution

engaged in this task in the State Forest Department.

The Functions of State CAMPA

          The Functions of State CAMPA shall include, inter alia-

          (i) Funding, overseeing and promoting compensatory afforestation done in lieu of  diversion of forest land for non-forestry use under the Forest (Conservation)   Act, 1980.

          (ii) Overseeing forest and wildlife conservation and protection works within forest   are as undertaken and financed under the programme.

          (iii) Maintaining a separate account in respect of the funds received from  conservation and protection of Protected Areas.

          (iv) creating transparency for the programme and mobilizing citizen support; and

          (v) Earmarking upto two percent of the funds for monitoring and evaluation.

          The AP State CAMPA shall be the custodian of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund.

          The AP State CAMPA was constituted in the state of A.P. in September 2009 and CAMPA Scheme is being implemented in Andhra Pradesh from the Plan Period 2009-2010.