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Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority

Introduction

Established in 2009, the objective behind the creation of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted for non-forest uses.

Rationale

  • The Supreme Court of India in 2009 directed the creation of a Compensatory Afforestation Fund, in which all funds received from user agencies towards compensatory afforestation were to be deposited, after the issue was brought to their notice by NGO’s working towards gaining adequate compensation for forest land lost due to infrastructure and development requirements. This authority shall work in the capacity of a National Advisory Council under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of Environment and Forests for monitoring, technical assistance and evaluation of compensatory afforestation activities.

Basic elements of design

As per Supreme Court orders the State CAMPA so established and presided over by the Chief Minister, would provide an integrated framework for utilizing multiple sources of funding and activities relating to protection and management of forests and wildlife. It is responsible for administering the amounts received from the Ad hoc CAMPA and utilization of funds collected for undertaking compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, conservation and protection of forests, infrastructure development, wildlife conservation and protection, and other related activities. National CAMPA Advisory Council has been established as per orders of the Supreme Court, with the following mandate: (1) Lay down broad guidelines for State CAMPA; (2) Facilitate scientific, technological and other assistance that may be required by State CAMPA; (3) Make recommendations to State CAMPA based on a review of their plans and programmes; (4) Provide a mechanism to State CAMPA to resolve issues of an inter-state or Centre-State character

India experience

For a period of seven years from 2002-2009 the fund could not be accessed by any of the states because of a disagreement on the manner of disbursement. To resolve the deadlock, the MoEF moved the Supreme Court to give effective control to an ad hoc CAMPA authority that would in the interim period monitor discharge and use of funds. It was agreed that ultimately this body would hand over control to the state CAMPA. By the end of January 2010, following national level sessions on the disbursement and use of CAMPA, 22 states/union territories have operationalized their accounts. Out of the received amounts of approximately Rs 13,000 crore in the ad hoc CAMPA, the state CAMPAs have been allocated approximately Rs 1000 crore.