PANAJI
After missing the March 31 deadline set by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, the State Forest Department has pulled up its sleeves to clear the backlog of compensatory afforestation (CA).
A total of around 1400 hectares of degraded or open forest area will be brought under CA within three years.
Since 1980, a total of 3,541 hectares of forest land has been diverted under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. As per law, the forest department has to undertake CA and Penal CA to cover the diverted land.
However, the data shows that the State has managed to take up afforestation at 2,143.61 hectares, which is 60.54 per cent of the total required land.
CAMPA had directed all the States including Goa to complete all backlogs of CA and Penal CA by March 31 this year.
Chief Wildlife Warden Saurabh Kumar said that the backlog will be cleared in a phased-manner wherein this current financial year, the department aims to clear 470 hectares of backlog with an expenditure of around Rs 3 crore. He said that the CA will be taken up to clear the backlog in interior forest areas and some wildlife sanctuaries, which are identified using remote sensing technology.
“The initiative is a significant step towards mitigating the adverse effects of deforestation and climate change. The plantation of trees in degraded areas will not only help in restoring the natural ecosystem but also enhance biodiversity and reduce the carbon footprint,” the officer stated.
Last year, the Forest department faced a setback after the Central body rejected its proposal to take up CA in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka for forests lost in Goa.
In August 2019, Goa received its share of Rs 238 crore under CAMPA for promoting afforestation and achieving green objectives. The officer said that the move highlights the State's commitment to achieving green objectives and promoting afforestation.
