J&K restores over 1.06 lakh hectares of forest land under CAMPA: Govt

More than 1.06 lakh hectares of degraded forest land has been restored and nearly 7.46 crore saplings planted across Jammu and Kashmir under CAMPA since 2010-11, officials informed during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the progress of afforestation and ecological restoration works being undertaken under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), while stressing sustainable restoration of degraded forests, scientific monitoring and stronger protection of vulnerable forest landscapes.

During the meeting, Dulloo directed the Forest Department to complete digitisation of forest maps and boundary pillars for better demarcation and protection of forest land. He also called for linking contractor payments with plantation survival rates and asked the Finance Department to incorporate suitable clauses in future tenders.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed year-wise trends in forest diversion and compensatory afforestation. The presentation revealed that diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes has sharply declined after 2020, while the area treated under afforestation and ecological restoration programmes has nearly doubled in recent years, reflecting the administration’s increasing emphasis on ecological conservation and restoration.

Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Shailendra Kumar stressed upon recreating missing forest records on the pattern of the Revenue Department and advocated staggered payments linked with survival of planting material in phases of growth for ensuring accountability and better outcomes.

Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Sheetal Nanda highlighted the sustained plantation efforts undertaken by the department over the years and informed the meeting that a robust mechanism of monitoring and multilayer evaluation has been institutionalized to ensure efficient execution of works on the ground.

The meeting was informed that since inception of CAMPA activities in 2010-11, more than 1,06,023 hectares of degraded forest area across Jammu and Kashmir has been treated through afforestation, assisted natural regeneration and ecological restoration measures. During the same period, nearly 746.65 lakh saplings have been planted across different forest divisions, reflecting sustained expansion in plantation activities over the years.

Officials informed the meeting that forest diversion for non-forestry purposes has witnessed a sharp decline after 2020, while the area covered under afforestation and ecological restoration has nearly doubled in recent years.

According to the presentation, during 2025-26 alone, nearly 2,952 hectares were treated under different CAMPA components across the Union Territory. Around 68.70 lakh saplings were raised in nurseries, while maintenance of more than 1.64 crore nursery saplings was undertaken during the year.

The Forest Department also completed over 12.65 lakh running feet of fencing, carried out 19.32 lakh patch sowing and dibbling interventions and executed 37,001 cubic metres of soil and moisture conservation works during the financial year. Besides, 108 water harvesting structures, 27 check dams and over 14,940 boundary pillars were created to strengthen ecological restoration efforts.

CEO CAMPA, K.S. Jayachandran informed the meeting that plantation activities had significantly increased after 2020, with annual plantation figures rising well above the 16-year average of 46.60 lakh saplings. More than 67 lakh saplings were planted during 2020-21 and high plantation targets have continued since then.

The meeting was also informed that over 374.78 lakh running feet of fencing and 1,47,623 boundary pillars have been installed across Jammu and Kashmir for protection and demarcation of forest land.

Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary stressed the need to improve plantation survival rates, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and enhance community participation in afforestation programmes to ensure long-term ecological resilience in Jammu and Kashmir.