Union Environment Ministry Sanctions 111 Urban Forests in Record Time

The Union environment ministry approved 111 urban forests in six states and one Union Territory within the first 100 days of the new government, surpassing its target. The revised Nagar Van Yojana, launched in 2020, aims to enhance urban greenery, improve life quality, and address environmental issues by developing 1,000 urban forests by 2027.

The Union environment ministry announced on Sunday the sanctioning of 111 urban forests spread across six states and one Union Territory, achieved within the first 100 days of the new administration.

Originally, the ministry targeted the approval of 100 urban forests in 100 days, making their recent achievement especially noteworthy. This initiative falls under the revised Nagar Van Yojana launched in 2020, which aims to enhance urban greenery, elevate the quality of life, and boost social cohesion within cities.

The scheme provides financial assistance amounting to Rs 4 lakh per hectare for the creation and maintenance of urban forests, inviting active participation from citizens, students, and various other stakeholders. Each urban forest spans an area between 10 and 50 hectares, with at least two-thirds of its land covered by trees. These forests are intended to feature components like biodiversity parks, Smriti Vans, butterfly conservatories, and herbal gardens, alongside Matri Vans established under the Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam campaign.

The ultimate goal of the Nagar Van Yojana is to develop 1,000 urban forests by the year 2027, backed by financial support from the National Fund of the National Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority. This comprehensive initiative aims to safeguard forest land in and around urban centers from degradation and encroachment, while simultaneously addressing critical environmental issues such as air pollution, urban heat islands, biodiversity loss, and habitat degradation.

(With inputs from agencies.)