This File was last Updated/Modified: September 18 2014 11:49:26.

Environment and Forest Division

Through the Plans

Five Year Plans : First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh

Areas Assigned to Environment and Forest Division

1. Environment
2. Forests
3. Wildlife
4. Climate Change
5. Disaster Management

 

Environment

Environmental load increases with increasing population and rapid economic growth. Growth should be environmentally benign and sustainable. Monitoring and timely actions for mitigation of negative environmental impacts are important. Greater environmental awareness, appropriate policies and regulatory mechanisms are important means to ensure these considerations in development.

Forests

Forest cover of India is 67.71 million ha, which is 20.60% of its geographical area. Of this, 5.46 million ha (1.66%) is very dense forest, 33.26 million ha (10.12%) is moderately dense and the rest 28.99 million ha is open including 0.44 million ha of mangroves. The policy target is to have 33% forest and tree cover ultimately which will require additional coverage of 16 million ha.

Wildlife

Sanctuaries and National Parks showcase biodiversity and require specific measures for preservation. There are 96 National Parks and 509 Wildlife sanctuaries declared for the protection of wildlife habitats. The total area of 15.7 million ha, which is about 4.78% of the geographical area of the country covering about 20% of the total forests is maintained under the protected area network.

Climate Change

Global Climate Change due to rising levels of Green House Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere is one of the most serious environmental concerns of our time. Since Global warming depends upon the total stock of GHG in the atmosphere, continued emissions beyond the earth’s absorptive capacity necessarily imply a rise in temperature. If emissions are stabilized at present level, a warming of about 0.2oC per decade is projected by Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Many Regions in India are highly vulnerable to natural and other disasters on account of geological conditions. About 60% of the landmass is susceptible to earthquakes and over 8% is prone to floods. Of the nearly 7500 kilometers of coastline, approximately 5700 kilometers is prone to cyclones. About 68% area is susceptible to drought.

Disaster Management

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 has been enacted for establishing requisite institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of disaster management plans, ensuring measures by various wings of the government for prevention and mitigating the effects of disasters, and for undertaking a holistic, coordinated and prompt response to any disaster situation.

The Environment and Forest Division is concerned with:

• Devising plans for the improvement of Environment and Forestry activities, this involves the following tasks:
  - Formulation of Five Year Plans, Annual Plans, processing reports and evaluation.
  - Identification of thrust areas that need specific attention and Follow up actions.
  - Identification of policy directions, major strategies and thrust areas for inclusion in the approach documents of the Planning Commission.
• Preparation of background notes Finalization of approaches, policies, strategies, targets, investment priorities etc. in the context of formulation of Five Year Plans with concerned Central Departments/Ministries.
• Performance Review (PR) of Financial/Physical Performance of the concerned Ministry Plan Schemes, Initiatives and Follow-up.
• Review and monitoring the performance of State and Central Pollution Control Boards and gives directions for their effective reach.
• Promotes Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) among the Industrial sectors and Public Entrepreneurs in order to reduce GHG emissions and thereby involving in Carbon trading which leads to the development of sustainable energy development.
• Crafting Weather Insurance program for the farmers of the country which may lead to an ultimate solution for the crop insurance.