Nagar Van Yojana

Why is in news? Nagar Van Yojana aims to create green and sustainable cities

As a pilot scheme, Nagar Van-Udyan Yojana was implemented for a period of five Years (beginning 2015-16) by the the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change.

From the year 2020-21 - 2024-25, the Pilot Scheme of Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) is being implemented with an objective to significantly enhance the tree outside forests and green cover, enhancement of biodiversity and ecological benefits to the urban and peri-urban areas apart from improving quality of life of city dwellers.

The theme of World Environment Day 2020 is 'Celebrating Biodiversity'—a concern that is both urgent and existential but India has decided to focus on Nagar Van (Urban Forests) in addition to the official theme.

The Nagar Van (Urban Forests) aims to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in the next five years.

Warje Urban Forest in Pune (Maharashtra) will be considered as a role model for the Scheme.

The Scheme enforces people’s participation and collaboration between the Forest Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, Corporates and local citizens.

These urban forests will primarily be on the existing forest land in the City or any other vacant land offered by local urban local bodies.

The scheme will be financed by the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016) funds.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) will be the nodal agency for scheme implementation.

Urban Forest refers to forested areas in the vicinity of a city accessible to the city dwellers suitably managed for providing a wholesome natural environment for recreation, conservation education, biodiversity conservation and support services like water and soil conservation, pollution abatement, reduction of heat islands effect etc.