Special Emphasis on Identified Thrust Areas
Mangroves - Conservation and management
Bamboo Plantations to increase employment opportunities based on bamboo
Coastal Shelter Belt for protection of the coastline from cyclonic winds
Medicinal Plants to conserve biodiversity and create employment opportunities
Eco-Tourism in forests and wildlife sanctuaries
Wildlife Conservation
Eco-Villages to ensure a better living standard for the rural masses
Mass Awareness to spread consciousness on environmental issues
Eco-Cities - afforestation drive for pollution control
Promotion and use of cleaner technologies for pollution control
Management of Hazardous Substances
Shelf of Projects for External Assistance
Environment Protection Fund
Management of Waste Water
National Forestry Action Programme to increase forest cover upto 33% of land area
I. Initiatives
For safeguarding India’s Biodiversity, A Bill has since been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15.05.2000
City afforestation drive for pollution control launched in Tamil Nadu. Forest departments, public works departments, highways departments, revenue departments and NGOs etc. are the participating agencies for this project. To start with Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and Tirunelveli shall be covered
New guidelines issued on Joint Forest Management
Setting up of Forest Development Agencies in States - concept for strengthening participatory management of afforestation and ecodevelopment activities in forest fringe villages with improved and timely availability of funds
Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under the Environment Protection Act notified.
II. Recent Achievements
The 12th Biosphere Reserve set up at Kanchenjunga Hills in Sikkim
Assessment of forest cover of the country finalised by the Forest Survey of India indicates increase in the forest cover
Only unleaded petrol is supplied in all retail outlets of the country with effect from 1-2-2000 and 0.25% sulphur in diesel with effect from 1-1-2000 respectively. As a result of these efforts, air pollution in Delhi has been found to be reduced
2. Policy Initiatives taken by the Ministry of Env. and Forests in the Last Two years