Green India Mission

Introduction:

Melting polar ice caps, hunger, displacement of resources, loss of species, health risks, severe storms, rise in water levels, and numerous other issues plague our globe as the temperature continues to escalate. Climate change poses an imminent threat to humanity and calls for immediate attention. Due to this, the then Prime Minister of the Indian Government introduced the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on 30th June 2008. India's Ministry of the Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change recently introduced a national strategy that focused on adapting to climate change and promoted ecological sustainability in the country's development trajectory. This strategy highlights the importance of maintaining a high growth rate to enhance the living standards of most Indians while simultaneously reducing their exposure to the detrimental impacts of climate change.

In 2008, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched by the Indian government in response to the urgent necessity for combating climate change. The NAPCC consists of eight missions that cover various sectors to minimise and tolerate the unfavourable effects of climate change. One of these eight missions, the Green India Mission (GIM), is devoted to reviving and safeguarding the depleting vegetation in India. The main aim of this report is to scrutinise and compare the progress of NAPCC holistically, with a particular focus on the successes and accomplishments achieved by the Green India Mission throughout its inception.

The NAPCC is responsible for eight distinct missions:

1. National Solar Mission: It encourages the advancement of sustainable and renewable energy sources by promoting the development and use of solar power. With goals for increasing solar power capacity, the country is actively transitioning towards a more eco-friendly future.

2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency: This mission aims to reduce energy consumption, improve technological efficiency, and foster a culture of sustainable energy practices by focusing on improving energy efficiency across various sectors.

3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat: This mission contributes to the creation of urban environments that are both environmentally resilient and livable through eco-friendly infrastructure, proficient resource management, and green practices.

4. National Water Mission - This mission aims to handle water-related issues. Various sectors are encouraged to improve their water usage efficiency through sustainable water management practices and conservation efforts under this mission's purview.

5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem - This mission is aimed at tackling the environmental difficulties around the Himalayan Region, where the focus lies in developing sustainability, conservation and capacity building for the ecosystem's resilience.

6. National Mission for a Green India - This mission focuses on India's forest and tree cover preservation and improvement. It concentrates on sustainable forest management, conservation of biodiversity, and carbon segregation.

7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture - In this mission, the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture is reduced by improving water usage efficiency, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and enhancing soil health.

8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change - The main objective of this mission is to generate and disseminate knowledge on climate change. It provides a solid foundation for informed policymaking and action to tackle the challenges brought on by climate change.

The Green India Mission (GIM) is a part of the NAPCC Act, which was initiated in February 2014. The goals of the GIM are to increase forest and tree cover, improve ecosystem services, enhance carbon segregation, and increase forest revenues.

This research report looks at the Green India National Mission and examines its objectives, strategies, and achievements since its inception. It also explores progress on various components of the mission, highlighting key milestones and challenges encountered along the way.

This research employs a multifaceted approach, drawing data from various sources and evaluating existing literature to assess the progress of the National Mission for Green India since its inception.

A study by Pandve, 2009 highlights climate change offers a serious worldwide concern, as seen by increased vulnerability to effects such as food instability, coastal erosion, natural disasters, species extinction, and disease spread. The National Action Plan on Climate Change, established in 2008 and valid until 2017, intends to address these issues by requiring ministries to submit implementation plans by December 2008. (Pandve, 2009)

T. Deshpande After 2007, India's attitude on climate negotiations shifted to line with an ingrained liberal order. It committed to internal climate adjustments, led by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's per capita emissions reduction goal, demonstrating active engagement. Despite voluntary emission reductions in Copenhagen, India focused on equality and justice, ensuring commitments were aligned with developmental requirements. (T. Deshpande et al, 2021)

Achievements of Green India Mission

The Green India Mission was launched to mobilise over Rs 60,000 crore for forestry initiatives.

The government had implemented the Joint Forest Management (JFM) program, which was to engage over 2.5 million forest dwellers in forest management activities.

Following the early achievements in West Bengal and Haryana, the JFM plans were given national significance in 1988 legislation and impetus in the 1998 Guidelines. As of 2000, 27 Indian Union states had various JFM systems in place, with over 63,000 FPCs collaborating in the cooperative management of more than 1400,000 km2 of wooded land. In 2010, the region had grown to 2460000 km2 and was controlled by more than 112896 committees, with around 14500000 families benefiting from the JFM program.

The National Forestry Information System (NFIS) was established, which is a centralised platform for managing and monitoring forest data. The NFIS creates relevant data, by taking inputs from satellite images, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and well-designed ground surveys, an approach used by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) in its core activities for monitoring the implementation of various country-wide afforestation programs and schemes like the Green India Mission (GIM), Compensatory Afforestation, and National Afforestation Programme (NAP), which involve sizeable financial expenditure.

Evaluation

India is taking strides towards its ambitious green goals, with the Green India Mission, driving a remarkable increase in forest cover and quality. From 2008 to 2022, forest cover jumped from 21.23% to 24.62%, putting the nation well on track for its 33% target by 2030.

However, this mission does not work solely quantitatively, there are many qualitative aspects to it too. The mission prioritises sustainable management practices, ensuring responsible timber harvesting while protecting biodiversity, soil, and water resources. Over 12 million hectares of non-forest land have been reforested, breathing life back into barren landscapes.

Additionally, GIM empowers communities by fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. Over 2.5 million forest dwellers actively participate in Joint Forest Management programs, taking the reins of their ecological future. This community-driven approach not only strengthens the bond between people and nature but also generates employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas. GIM's impact extends far beyond mere figures. It contributes to biodiversity conservation, promotes soil health, and plays a vital role in India's fight against climate change. As the nation strides towards its green goals, GIM stands as a testament to the power of collective action and sustainable practices in building a brighter future for people and the planet alike.

Challenges

India's Green India Mission, while undeniably boosting forest cover, faces criticism for prioritising quantity over ecological considerations. Critics argue that planting incompatible trees like eucalyptus in unsuitable regions, ignoring weather and soil conditions, can exacerbate drought and threaten local biodiversity - stagnating and decreasing it. This concern aligns with the mission's shortfall in 2015-16 and 2016-17, where it fell 34% short of its target, covering only 44,000 of the planned 67,000 hectares.

Further challenges come from encroachments fueled by illegal construction and logging, demanding stricter enforcement. Additionally, limited financial resources often hinder sustainable forest management practices. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires a holistic approach that combines stringent regulatory measures, community education, and increased financial investments in sustainable forest management.

Moving forward, GIM needs to prioritise species selection based on local ecosystems, address resource constraints, and strengthen enforcement to ensure its green ambitions translate into lasting environmental benefits.

Conclusion:

The National Mission for Green India, or the entire NAPCC Act as a whole, has made significant progress in terms of restoring and protecting India’s forests. The mission increases forest cover, promotes sustainable forestry practices, and empowers communities to manage forests. However, challenges such as the abuse of power, financial constraints, and lack of awareness remain. Addressing these challenges and enhancing the implementation of forest management strategies is critical to achieving the mission's objectives.

References: 

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