2 days ago

Audit Finds India’s Green Mission Falling Far Short

India planned to create more forests through the Green India Mission.

The plan aimed to add trees and improve forests across 1.4 million hectares.

The audit found that only about 30,000 hectares of new forest and tree cover were added.

It also found that much less degraded forest was improved than planned.

Planting a tree does not always mean a forest has been created.

Trees need the right soil, water, species, care and protection to survive.

Healthy forests also include animals, insects, birds, fungi and local communities.

The article says old forests cannot quickly be replaced by new plantations.

It recommends protecting natural forests and judging projects by long-term ecological results.

Key facts

Forest-cover target: The mission aimed to increase forest and tree cover over 1.4 million hectares between 2015-16 and 2024-25.
Actual increase: About 30,000 hectares were added, an approximately 97.57% shortfall.
Degraded-forest target: The mission sought to improve 1.4 million hectares of degraded forest.
Degraded forest improved: Improvement was achieved over roughly 110,000 hectares.
Audit concerns: The audit identified inadequate planning, weak financial management, insufficient monitoring and poor inter-agency coordination.
Ecological concern: The audit drew attention to plantations involving Acacia auriculiformis, identified in the article as invasive.
Policy recommendation: The article calls for long-term monitoring, ecological restoration, community participation and greater protection of existing natural forests.

thestatesman.com · 2 days ago