Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)

What is CAMPA?

• About:
  The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is a statutory body created under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016. It operates both at the national and state/UT levels. Its primary aim is to oversee and manage the funds collected for compensatory afforestation when forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes (e.g., for infrastructure, industrial development, etc.).

• Background:
  CAMPA was initially established by the Supreme Court in 2002 following the T.N. Godavarman vs. Union of India case (1995) to monitor and guide compensatory afforestation initiatives across the country. It was formed in response to unutilized afforestation funds and inconsistent fund management by states.

• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980:

  • According to this Act, when forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes, the user agency (those requesting land diversion) must:

    • Provide alternative non-forest land for afforestation.

    • Bear the costs associated with the afforestation process.

  • If suitable non-forest land is not available, the user agency must undertake afforestation on twice the area of degraded forest land.

• CAF Act, 2016:
  The CAF Act, 2016 institutionalized the management of these funds, with dedicated funds created at both the national and state levels for afforestation and ecological restoration activities.

Structure and Functioning of CAMPA

1. Dedicated Funds:

   • National CAF (NCAF): Managed by National CAMPA under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), under the Public Account of India.

   • State CAF (SCAF): Managed by State CAMPA Authorities under the Public Accounts of States/UTs.

   • These funds are interest-bearing and non-lapsable, meaning unused funds accrue interest and do not expire.

2. Fund Allocation:

   • 90% of CAMPA funds are allocated to states/UTs for afforestation and ecological restoration.

   • 10% is retained by the Centre for oversight, capacity-building, and national-level initiatives.

   • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) conducts annual audits of both National and State CAMPA to ensure financial accountability.

3. Permissible Activities Under CAMPA Funds:

   • Afforestation (compensatory, additional, and penal).

   • Catchment treatment and natural regeneration.

   • Support for forest and wildlife management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and village relocation from protected areas.

   • Initiatives for capacity building and infrastructure development for forest and wildlife protection.

Challenges in Implementing the CAF Act, 2016

1. Land Availability Constraints:

   • The CAF Act mandates that afforestation land be contiguous to the diverted forest area for effective management. However, suitable non-forest land is often scarce, especially in small states and heavily forested regions like Chhattisgarh. Additionally, the land provided is sometimes unsuitable for plantations.

2. Diversion and Underutilization of Funds:

   • Despite the creation of CAMPA, funds—especially those collected before 2016—were underutilized until the CAF Act came into force. Funds have also been diverted for other schemes like the Green India Mission, diluting the focus on compensatory afforestation.

3. Ecological Limitations & Monoculture:

   • Monoculture plantations (single-species plantations) are common in CAMPA projects, which reduce biodiversity, disrupt ecological corridors, and cause edge effects that weaken overall ecosystem integrity.

4. Greenwashing & Rights Violations:

   • Critics warn of greenwashing, where compensatory afforestation replaces rich, biodiverse forests with commercial monocultures that fail to provide necessary ecosystem services.

   • Additionally, the unilateral control of CAMPA funds by forest officials often sidesteps tribals and forest dwellers, violating the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

5. Policy & Institutional Gaps:

   • Delays in plan submissions, fund releases, and the lack of dedicated CAMPA offices in states hinder the effective implementation of the Act.

   • The Parliamentary Committee has flagged the bureaucratic nature of the CAF Act, with no fixed timelines for afforestation targets.

Measures to Strengthen CAMPA

1. Ecologically Viable Land Bank:

   • Create a central land bank of non-forest and degraded forest lands near existing forests to enhance ecological connectivity, reduce edge effects, and improve survival rates for afforestation efforts.

2. Fund Utilization & Transparency:

   • Ensure timely release of funds, adherence to annual plans with clear timelines, and strengthen audits.

   • Third-party monitoring and public disclosure of fund utilization and outcomes will improve transparency and accountability.

3. Biodiverse, Community-Led Approach:

   • Shift from monoculture plantations to native, multi-species plantations to enhance biodiversity.

   • Involve tribals and forest dwellers as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006 to ensure socio-ecological justice and prevent greenwashing.

4. Legal & Policy Reforms:

   • Amend the CAF Act to:

     • Set time-bound afforestation targets.

     • Mandate ecological equivalence (i.e., afforestation should restore similar ecological functions as the original forest).

     • Enforce penalties for non-compliance.

   • Link forest clearances to ecosystem service restoration and not just land area.

   • Align CAMPA’s goals with IPCC guidelines, India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the Paris Agreement to ensure that net ecological loss is avoided.

Conclusion

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) plays a crucial role in restoring and protecting India’s forests, especially when forest land is diverted for developmental purposes. However, the implementation faces significant challenges related to land availability, fund utilization, and ecological concerns. Reforms to ensure biodiversity-based afforestation, better fund management, and community involvement are necessary for the success of compensatory afforestation initiatives in India.