PIB TrackerNational CAMPA's Governing Body reviews afforestation funds and goes digital with plantation monitoring
The 7th Governing Body of National CAMPA, chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, reviewed compensatory-afforestation and Net Present Value spending, rolled out a Digital Annual Plan of Operations and a GIS lab, and noted ₹88.40 crore released under the MISHTI mangrove mission.
What happened
- The 7th Governing Body of National CAMPA met at Coimbatore, chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
- It reviewed Net Present Value (NPV) and Compensatory Afforestation activities and CAMPA funds received/approved/transferred in 2025-26.
- It noted the CAG's certification audit of National CAMPA's 2024-25 accounts as a true and fair view.
- It rolled out a Digital Annual Plan of Operations and a GIS lab using satellite imagery for transparent plantation monitoring, plus the Harit-SANKALP nursery-traceability portal.
- It noted ₹88.40 crore released under MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) across six states/UTs.
For Prelims
- CAMPA: The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, given statutory backing by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 (in force 2018) — with National and State CAMPA.
- Compensatory afforestation: When forest land is diverted for non-forest use, the user agency must fund afforestation on equivalent non-forest/degraded land.
- Net Present Value (NPV): The ecological cost of a diverted forest's lost services, recovered from the user agency and deposited in the CAMPA fund.
- MISHTI: The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (Budget 2023) — restores mangroves for coastal protection, carbon and livelihoods.
- CAG audit: The Comptroller and Auditor General audits National CAMPA's accounts — a constitutional accountability check (Article 148).
- Don't confuse: CAMPA funds compensatory afforestation for diverted forest; the Green India Mission is a separate afforestation programme under NAPCC.
For UPSC: Anchor this in forest governance and green finance — the CAF Act 2016/CAMPA mechanism, NPV as pricing the ecological cost of forest diversion, and the shift to GIS/QR-based digital monitoring for transparency. Link MISHTI (mangroves/blue carbon), CAG oversight, and the tension between development-driven forest diversion and compensatory afforestation's real effectiveness.
What it is NOT: This is a governance/review meeting and digital-tool rollout, not a new fund or afforestation target. CAMPA compensates for diverted forest via NPV/CA funds; it is distinct from the Green India Mission, and compensatory plantations are not equivalent to intact natural forests.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.14 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Financing and monitoring afforestation for diverted forests — pricing ecological cost (NPV) and using digital tools for transparent, accountable green spending.
Substantiation (data)
7th National CAMPA Governing Body (Coimbatore): NPV/CA and fund review for 2025-26; CAG-certified 2024-25 accounts; Digital APO, GIS lab and Harit-SANKALP portal; ₹88.40 crore under MISHTI.
Exemplification
GIS/satellite and QR-code nursery traceability for monitoring; MISHTI mangrove restoration as a CAMPA-supported flagship.
Problematisation
Concerns over the quality/survival of compensatory plantations, monoculture vs natural forest, delays in fund use, and diversion pressures temper the mechanism's impact.
Way-forward
Use GIS monitoring to ensure plantation survival, prioritise native/ecologically sound afforestation, speed transparent fund use, and integrate with mangrove/blue-carbon goals.
Position
Government stance: transparent, technology-monitored compensatory afforestation and forest conservation funded through CAMPA.
Deploys into: Conservation, forests and environmental impact (GS3.14 — CAMPA/compensatory afforestation) · the CAF Act 2016, Net Present Value, MISHTI mangroves and CAG oversight · digital/GIS monitoring of afforestation and forest-diversion trade-offs.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change · 2026-07-10 · PRID 2283233 · PIB source ↗