FAQ`s

 

CAMPA Stands for Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.

 

 

Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) notified the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) in April, 2004 for the management of the compensatory afforestation fund.

In 2009, State CAMPA wa s constituted vide Notification No. FFE-B-F (2)/200 –Pt-II dated 3rd August, 2009.

In 2018, it will become the Himachal Pradesh State Authority.

 

 

Main heads under CAMPA are as under:

  1. Compensatory Afforestation (CA)
  2. Catchment Area Treatment (CAT)
  3. Integrated Wildlife Management Plans (IWMP)
  4. Net Present Value (NPV)
  5. Interest
  6. Others

 

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest uses.

 

  1. Plantations
  2. Assisted Natural Regeneration
  3. Nursery Development
  4. Soil and Water Conservation
  5. Forest Infrastructure Development
  6. Wildlife Activities
  7. Awareness and Training
  8. Field Studies

 

 

  1. Governing Body (Chairperson – Chief Ministers)
  2. Steering Committee (Chairperson- Chief Secretary)
  3. Executive Committee (Chairperson- HoFF)

 

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF Act), 2016 and Rules, 2018 provide elaborate guidelines and activities for utilization of CAMPA Fund.

CAMPA implements schemes through the field units of HP Forest Department and providing funds as approved in the APOs.

The State CAMPA received 90% of the total share its funds from the National Authority CAMPA against the funds deposited by the User Agencies.

 

CAMPA funds are auditable by the PAGHP at the State level.

In the April 2004 - GoI notified CAMPA and on May 5, 2006 Hon’ble Supreme Court Constituted an Adhoc Committee till State CAMPAs become operational.

The National Authority for Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning (CAMPA) is an organization that promotes afforestation and regeneration to compensate for forest land that has been diverted to non-forest uses. 

The State CAMPA administers the amount received from the SCAF and utilizes the monies collected for undertaking compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, conservation and protection of forests, infrastructure development, wildlife conservation and protection and other related activities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto

Catchment Area Treatment Plan

 

CAT plans for the free draining catchment area of the proposed project have been prepared for areas with moderately soil erosion intensity, which targets toward overall improvement in the environmental conditions of the region. All the activities are aimed at treating the degraded and potential areas with severe soil erosion. The plan provides benefits due to biological and engineering measures and its utility in maintaining the ecosystem health. The plan with objectives addresses issues such as prevention of gully erosion, enhancing the forest cover for increasing soil holding capacity; and arresting total sediment flow in the reservoir and flowing waters

 

The main Objective of the CAT is to rejuvenate various potential and degraded ecosystems in the catchment area. The action plans for each catchment areas have been prepared for this purpose with the following objectives.

  • To facilitate the hydrological functioning of the catchment and to augment the quality of water of the river and its tributaries.
  • Conservation of soil cover and to arrest the soil erosion, floods and siltation of the river and its tributaries and consequent reduction of siltation in the reservoir of the project.
  • Demarcation of the priority of sub watersheds of treatment based on soil erosion intensity in the catchment area.
  • Rehabilitation of degraded forest through afforestation.
  • Mitigation of landslide landslip and rock falls.
  • Soil conservation through biological and engineering measures to reduce sediment load in river and tributaries, thus improving the quality of water.
  • Ecosystem conservation resulting from increased vegetative cover and water retaining properties of soil.

Employment generation through community participation and conservation

Treatment measures classified into two categories.

  • Biological Measures
  • Engineering Measures

The Major components of the CAT Plan as per the notified by the State of Himachal Pradesh vide his notification FFE-B-F-(2)-72/2004-Pt-II dated 30.09.20209 are as under:

  1. Afforestation
  2. Soil & Water Conservation
  3. PES & Eco tourism
  4. Research training and Capacity Building
  5. Infrastructure Development
  6. Forest Protection
  7. Wildlife Management
  8. M&E
  9. Site -specific work plan 

Himachal Pradesh is a rich repository of medicinal & aromatic plants grown in wild habitat in different climatic zones. Out of around 3500 plant species found in HP, about 800 species are attributed with medicinal value& about 165 species are collected for commercial purposes.

Himachal is the largest supplier of Chilgoza, Chicory, Kuth dioscorea, Dhoop, Picrorrhiza, valerian and ephedra in the country. About 2500 tons of medicinal plants and parts thereof, valued at about Rs. 10 crores are exported outside the state every year. More than 90% of the species traded in the State are harvested from the wild.

Using the threat criteria developed by the IUCN, about 60 medicinal plant species from the state have categorized as Red Listed(12 species being ‘critically endangered’, 21 species being ‘endangered’ and 27 species being ‘vulnerable’.

In HP right-holders collect medicinal herbs and plants in small quantities free of charge for their bonafide use and for sale. Villager people collect these herbs and sell these to local shopkeepers in return for items of domestic need. In HP, the collection and trade of crude drug is not properly organized as the State has no market of its own.

In Himachal, majority of population lives in villages and still depends on forests for most of their daily needs. According to the study conducted by Dr. Madhu Verma , the direct consumptive benefits accrued from the forests of HP in the shape of Salvage, TD, Fuels, fodder, minor forest produce etc. worth about Rs. 1083 cores per annum.

TD policy has been rationalized and any right holder can get TD (Timber distribution). For this, Right holder can apply to concerned DFO. The right holder will now get converted timber after paying subsidized charges from nearby forest depot.

In such cases inform the concerned Divisional Forest Officer/Range Officer/Police Station directly /telephonically/by e-mail/ on e-samadhan site to control these illegal offences/apprehend the offenders under rules effectively.

Apply to Divisional Forest Officers directly/e-mail for reservation.

The owners may for their bonafide domestic and agricultural use can cut 3 trees of coniferous (except chil trees) and in case of chil and other trees 5 trees each year without permission and upto 10 trees with the written permission of the Range officer concerned and more than 10 trees of the DFO concerned under H.P.Land Preservation Act, 1978. In case of bamboos there shall be no restriction on number to be felled for bonafide domestic purposes or for use in their own cottage industries. The trees for sale shall be felled in accordance with the 10 years felling programme which shall be framed by the Forest Department and approved by the Government except the areas falling within the limits of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Councils, Nagar panchayats and Cantonment Boards.

The information regarding employment can be received from the Forest Department website i.e. www.hpforest.gov.in and also on H.P.Government official site www.himachal.nic.in

InTowards solving monkey menance, sterilization of monkeys in Shimla, Hamirpur, Gopalpur and Una is in progress. More than 3000monkeys sterilized till October 2011. Trial ofAir Guns to scare away the Monkeys form Agricultural fields under operation.

The convention on Wetlands, signed a Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an inter-governmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of Wetlands and their resources. At present there are 160 contracting parties to the convention, with 1916 wetland sites designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of international importance.

Govt. of India vide Ministry of Environment and Forests Notification dt. 4th December, 2010 has identified Pongdam in District Kangra, Chandertal in District Lahaul Spiti and Renuka in District Sirmour of HP for conservation and management under its conservation programe. HPFD carry out conservation activities through approved Management Action Plans. Two more sites in HP have been identified as Wetlands of International Importance.

Action is taken under Sec 33 & 79 IFA, 1927. A case has to be registered with Police. Punishment Imprisonment upto 2 years, fine upto Rs. 5000/- or both.

Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was enacted with a view to check further degradation of forests which ultimately results in ecological imbalance. All violation cases of the Act are to be reported by the State Govt to GOI for taking suitable action. As per provision of this Act, use of forest land for any non-forestry purposes requires prior approval of GOI for which proposal as per GOI guidelines has to be submitted. Non forestry activity include; construction of roads, buildings, hydro-electric projects, mining etc. Under Forest Conservation Act, 1980, 1288 cases cleared with green signal to 155 cases.

 

HPFD is committed to make Himachal a green State. In this endeavorTo make Himachal a HERBAL STATE, ‘SANJHA VAN-SANJIVANI VAN’, ‘APNA VAN-APNA DHAN’ and ‘PEEPAL–BARGAD’ schemes followed after ‘JAN JAN SANJEEVANI ABHIYAN’ and communities being motivated to plant more trees. 29 ‘Van Sarovar’ construted and 102 under construcution under MNREGA to conserve soil and water and to improve moisture regime by recharging of ground water.

 

Himachal on way to become Carbon Neutral State. CDM - Bio Carbon Sub Project under MHWDP singned with World Bank will benefit communities in 177 Panchayats in 10 districts of the state. It is the largest Forestry based Project in the World and first in India.

 

Pasture Developmnent Scheme of “Congress Ghas (Parthenium hysterophorous) Hatao – Chargah Bachao” announced.

 

Allowed selling of Khair Wood and Resin outside the state have enabled the Framers realize better price for their produce. Sale of Bamboo decontrolled in February 2011. Now the farmers are free to fell/ sell the bamboo from their private land at remunerative prices.

 

Increase in Green Cover from 21.16% in 1991 to26.35% in 2009 and Himachaladjudged the best State in the country for environment protection and increase of GREEN COVER & awarded ‘Diamond State Award’ and declared ‘Best Tourist Destination’.

 

Many Hydro-Electric Projects in Sutlej, Beas and Ravi basin are at different stages of development. In order to ensure the minimum damage to the environment and the longevity of these project, Catchment Area Treatment Plans (CAT Plans) are prepared and implemented for which user agencies deposit the money with HPFD. At present Catchment Area Treatment Plans (CAT Plans) worth Rs. 334 crore prepared for 23 Hydro-Electric Projects in the State.

 

To preserve ecological balance and to rehabilitate our ex-servicemen from Himachal, 133 INF BN (TA) Dogra Ecological Task Force has been raised. The force is doing wonderful task of RIM plantation/afforestation & soil conservation Doing commendable job of Afforestation, Soil Conservation and ecological awareness among masses in Sutlej catchments and some other areas.

 

World Bank aided Rs. 365 crore ‘Mid-Himalayan Watershed Development Project’ under implementation in 602 (102 more being added) Panchayats in 10 districts and Japan (JBIC) aided Rs. 160 crore ‘Swan River Integrated Watershed Development Project’ in progress in 96 Panchayats of Una District.

 

Western tragopan, Snow leopard, Pink Rhododendron