Maarg Manthan · Topic 19.16

National Afforestation Programme

Environment & Ecology › Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India · Topic 19.16

The National Afforestation Programme (NAP) is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, launched in 2000 (with the 10th Plan scheme sanctioned in 2002) to regenerate degraded forests and adjoining lands through people's participation. It is implemented by the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), which was set up in 1992 to promote afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development in degraded forest areas and adjoining lands, especially areas that are not covered by other schemes. At the field level, the scheme works through a three-tier structure: State Forest Development Agencies (SFDAs) at state level, Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) at the forest division level, and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level, which prepare micro-plans, carry out planting and protection and share in the benefits, with women taking part. Funds flow from the Centre to the SFDA and FDAs, and then to the JFMCs, with the cost of planting and protection covered in a project cycle of about five years. The scheme has funded planting on lakhs of hectares and the creation of thousands of JFMCs. NAP was brought under the National Mission for a Green India in later years, which now carries forward the afforestation work. NAEB also supports eco-development around protected areas, the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry, the 'Nagar Van' urban forests and evaluation of schemes.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

At a Glance

Launched 2000
Agency NAEB (set up 1992)
Structure SFDA, FDA, JFMC
Aim Regenerate degraded forests
Now under Green India Mission
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the Swachh Bharat Mission and describes a forest scheme that depends on community participation through the structures discussed earlier under JFM. Previous topic: Swachh Bharat Mission and Swachh Bharat Kosh. Next topic: National River Conservation Plan.

How Does the National Afforestation Programme Work?

Aspect	Details
Launch	2000; the 10th Plan scheme was sanctioned in 2002; ministry: Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Implementing board	National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), set up in 1992
Objective	Regenerate degraded forests and adjoining areas by people’s participation, improve livelihoods and increase forest cover
State level	State Forest Development Agency (SFDA)
Division level	Forest Development Agency (FDA), a federation of JFMCs
Village level	Joint Forest Management Committee, which prepares micro-plans and shares benefits
Project cycle	About five years for planting, protection and maintenance

What Are the Results and Links to Other Schemes?

Area covered: lakhs of hectares of degraded forest have been treated
JFMC strength: thousands of committees formed or strengthened
Women: participation encouraged
Green India Mission: NAP merged into the National Mission for a Green India in later years
Eco-development: around protected areas, NAEB runs eco-development
Issues: survival rates, monoculture planting, delays in release of funds, poor monitoring
Evaluation: third-party studies and geo-tagging

What Else Should You Remember?

NAEB: set up in August 1992 under the Environment Ministry
NAEB functions: evolve mechanisms for ecological restoration of degraded areas and for eco-development
Eco-Development Forces: Territorial Army units under NAEB to restore degraded areas
Eco-task force: Territorial Army (Ecological) battalions work in Himalaya, Rajasthan and elsewhere
Forest Development Agency: legal entity registered under the Societies Act
FDA chair: the Divisional Forest Officer
JFMC members: all adult villagers, with executive committees
Micro-plan: a village-level plan for planting and protection
Planting models: block plantation, bamboo, medicinal plants and assisted natural regeneration
Assisted natural regeneration: protecting root stock to let forest regrow
Community benefits: usufruct rights and income from timber sales
Fuelwood and fodder: provided from the plantations
Tenth Plan: NAP became a major scheme in the Tenth Plan
Compensatory afforestation: separate funding under the CAF Act
Monitoring: Forest Survey of India and third-party agencies
Criticism: dependence on forest departments and top-down targets
Green India Mission: launched 2014, aims at 5 million hectares of added cover
Nagar Van: urban forest scheme from 2020
Agroforestry Sub-Mission: promotes trees on farms
Scheme integration: NAP, CAMPA, GIM and Van Mahotsav work together
Link to previous: see Swachh Bharat Mission and Swachh Bharat Kosh
Link to next: see National River Conservation Plan
Link to JFM: see Joint Forest Management and Social Forestry
Caution: scheme status changed after merger with Green India Mission, so check MoEFCC
Exam hint: remember 2000, NAEB 1992 and the SFDA, FDA and JFMC chain
Joint Forest Management Committees: the scheme works through JFMCs formed under the JFM resolution of 1990, so NAP depends on community participation
Target setting: the Forest Department proposes areas, FDA approves micro-plans and the SFDA monitors progress
Choice of species: plans encourage local species, fodder and fuelwood trees chosen by villagers
Benefit sharing: villagers share in produce according to state JFM rules
Livelihood component: entry point activities such as water and village works build trust in the first year
Evaluation: the Environment Ministry commissions evaluations that find variable success
Fire and grazing control: protection against fire, grazing and illegal felling is the main task of the JFMC
Women and SC/ST: committees must include women and tribal members
Integrated planning: planting is combined with soil and moisture conservation work
Training: FDA and JFMC members are trained in micro-planning and accounts
Soil and water works: the programme combines planting with trenches, check dams and other water harvesting works
Nurseries: JFMCs may raise nurseries as a source of income

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 2000
Board: NAEB, 1992
Chain: SFDA, FDA, JFMC
Current affairs link: Green India Mission
Common errors: confusing NAP with CAMPA

As an analytical point, the NAP tried to move afforestation from a forest department task to a community project. Its record shows the value of local ownership but also the risk of top-down targets and low survival.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Idea Community planting
Chain Three tiers
Gap Survival

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the National River Conservation Plan. Next topic: National River Conservation Plan.

Key People and Terms

NAP National Afforestation Programme
NAEB National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board
SFDA State Forest Development Agency
FDA Forest Development Agency
JFMC Joint Forest Management Committee
ANR Assisted natural regeneration

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 2000.
NAEB set up 1992.
SFDA, FDA, JFMC structure.
Aim: degraded forests.
Now with Green India Mission.

Do Not Confuse With

NAP and CAMPA Afforestation scheme versus compensatory fund
NAEB and NBWL Afforestation board versus wildlife board
FDA and JFMC Division federation versus village committee

Memory Hook

Two thousand NAP, ninety-two NAEB; state, division, village to plant.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for structure and agencies. These points help.

Aim Degraded forests
Structure Three tiers
Gaps Survival

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Describe the National Afforestation Programme and its institutional structure. How has it contributed to afforestation?”

How to Answer

Aim Regenerate.
Structure SFDA to JFMC.
Links GIM.
Gaps Survival.

GS Relevance

Prelims: year, board, structure. GS Paper 3: afforestation schemes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the National Afforestation Programme?

The National Afforestation Programme is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Environment Ministry, started in 2000, to regenerate degraded forests and adjoining lands through participation of local communities. It is implemented by the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board through state and division level agencies and village JFM committees.

What is the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board?

NAEB was set up in 1992 under the Ministry of Environment and Forests to promote afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development in degraded forest areas and adjoining lands. It runs schemes such as the NAP, supports eco-development around protected areas, and works with the Territorial Army eco-task forces.

How does the NAP involve local communities?

Under the NAP, villagers form Joint Forest Management Committees that prepare micro-plans, plant and protect the area and share in the produce and income. The committees are federated into Forest Development Agencies at division level and State Forest Development Agencies at state level, which release funds and supervise the work.

What is the relationship between the NAP and the Green India Mission?

The National Mission for a Green India, launched in 2014 under the NAPCC, has taken over and widened the afforestation effort. In later years the NAP was brought under the Mission, with a focus on improving forest quality, increasing cover on degraded lands, and enhancing livelihoods and carbon sinks.

What are the problems in implementing the NAP?

Problems include low survival of plantations, planting of single species, late release of funds, targets driven by area rather than quality, weak role of villagers in decisions, and poor monitoring. Evaluations and geo-tagging have been introduced, but stronger community ownership is needed.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The NAP was launched in 2000.

True

By the Environment Ministry.

2 NAEB was set up in 1992.

True

For afforestation and eco-development.

3 JFMCs work at division level.

False

At village level.

4 The NAP is a part of CAMPA.