The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provided details on the implementation of the Green India Mission (GIM), one of the nine Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Since 2015-16, GIM has restored 184,467 hectares of degraded forest and non-forest landscapes through eco-restoration across 17 states and one Union Territory using an integrated landscape approach.
State-wise physical achievement data shows Madhya Pradesh leads with 32,831 hectares restored, followed by Manipur (17,488 ha), Mizoram (19,643 ha), Odisha (20,711 ha), and Chhattisgarh (22,601 ha). Other significant contributions include Kerala (14,290 ha), Uttarakhand (14,836 ha), Punjab (7,168 ha), and Sikkim (6,567 ha). Smaller restoration areas were recorded in Andhra Pradesh (1,433 ha), Himachal Pradesh (1,299 ha), Jammu & Kashmir (1,778 ha), Karnataka (2,722 ha), and West Bengal (2,606 ha).
The Ministry is also implementing Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) with a target to develop 600 urban forests (Nagar Vans) and 400 urban gardens (Nagar Vatikas) during 2020-21 to 2026-27 to enhance urban green cover and ecological benefits, improving air quality and micro-climate.
For FY 2026-27, Rs. 57.08 crore has been allocated to seven states under GIM: Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh for approved activities. Under NVY, funds are released from the National Authority CAMPA based on approved state proposals for plantation and related activities.
Implementation is carried out through local institutions including Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), Village Forest Committees (VFCs), and other community-based organizations as per approved Annual Plans of Operation. Local communities including JFMCs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are engaged for plantation maintenance, nursery raising, and allied livelihood activities where provided for in approved activities.
Monitoring follows a multi-tiered approach using technology-enabled systems including geo-tagging of plantation sites, GIS-based mapping, geo-tagged photographs, and .kml files. State Forest Departments conduct periodic field inspections and third-party monitoring, with corrective measures like gap filling based on survival assessments. Drone-based monitoring supplements field verification where undertaken. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) conducts biennial forest cover assessment using remote sensing with ground verification, publishing findings in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR).