Subject: GS 3: Environment
Context: National CAMPA approved new conservation projects for four flagship species and launched Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana to strengthen afforestation, sacred grove conservation and technology-based monitoring.
UPSC Online Preparation
About Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana
- It is a new Central scheme approved by the National CAMPA for conservation and restoration of India’s Sacred Groves.
- Budget Outlay: ₹3,000 crore.
- Implementation Period: 2026–27 to 2030–31.
- Key Provisions
-
- Conservation and restoration of nearly 15,000 Sacred Groves across India.
- Community-led protection of culturally significant forest patches.
- Restoration of degraded sacred forests and biodiversity.
- Supports traditional ecological knowledge and climate resilience.
About National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)
- It is a statutory authority established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 (effective from 2018).
- Manages funds collected when forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes.
- Background: Originated from the Supreme Court’s T.N. Godavarman v. Union of India case.
- Initially created in 2002 as an ad-hoc authority to manage unutilised compensatory afforestation funds.
- Structure
- National CAMPA: Functions under MoEFCC and manages the National CAF (NCAF).
- State CAMPA: Established in every State/UT to manage the State CAF (SCAF).
- Both funds are interest-bearing and non-lapsable.
- Funding Mechanism: User agencies diverting forest land must:
- Provide equivalent non-forest land for afforestation.
- Bear the entire cost of afforestation.
- 90% of funds are transferred to States/UTs.
- 10% retained by the Centre for monitoring and capacity building.
- If non-forest land is unavailable, undertake afforestation over twice the degraded forest area.
- Funds are audited annually by the CAG.
- Key Functions of CAMPA
- Afforestation & Ecosystem Restoration: Undertakes compensatory, additional and penal afforestation, along with natural regeneration and catchment area treatment to restore degraded forest ecosystems.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Supports species recovery programmes, habitat restoration, and conservation initiatives such as mangrove restoration, Nagar Van Yojana (urban forests) and other biodiversity projects.
- Monitoring & Financial Governance: Ensures transparent and scientific implementation of CAMPA-funded projects through GIS-based monitoring, satellite imagery, digital Annual Plans and annual CAG audits.
- Recent CAMPA Decisions: Approved four new conservation projects for the Ganga River Dolphin, Snow Leopard, Wild Water Buffalo and Indian Rhinoceros to strengthen species recovery and habitat conservation across India.
- The governing body of National CAMPA also gave assent for continued support for the conservation of Manipur’s brow-antlered deer, Sangai.
Click to Explore UPSC Offline Coaching
| Species |
Key Features |
Conservation Status / Measures |
| Ganga River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) |
India’s National Aquatic Animal (2009); freshwater species; functionally blind; uses echolocation; indicator of river health; locally called ‘Susu’ |
- IUCN: Endangered
- WPA, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I;
- CMS: Appendix I
- Protected under Project Dolphin
|
| Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) |
Called the “Ghost of the Mountains”; inhabits Himalayan elevations of 3,000–4,500 m; solitary; genetically closer to tigers than leopards |
- IUCN: Vulnerable;
- WPA: Schedule I;
- CITES: Appendix I;
- CMS: Appendix I
- Conserved under Project Snow Leopard
|
| Indian Rhinoceros (Greater One-Horned Rhino) |
Largest Asian rhinoceros; single horn; armour-like skin; inhabits alluvial grasslands and wetlands of the Indo-Nepal Terai |
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- WPA: Schedule I
- Protected under Indian Rhino Vision and habitat management programmes
|
| Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus arnee) |
Largest wild bovine; ancestor of domestic buffalo; inhabits wetlands and grasslands; mainly found in Assam and Chhattisgarh |
- IUCN: Endangered
- WPA: Schedule I
- National CAMPA approved a Pan-India Conservation Action Plan
|
| Sangai (Manipur Brow-antlered Deer) |
Endemic to Keibul Lamjao National Park; known as the “Dancing Deer” due to movement on floating phumdis |
- IUCN: Endangered
- WPA: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
- National CAMPA approved continued conservation support
|
11 Jul 2026
