In the first 100 days of the Modi 3.0 Government, the Union Environment Ministry has sanctioned 111 urban forests in six states and one Union Territory against the target of 100 urban forests during the period.

The initiative is part of the Ministry’s revised Nagar Van Yojana in 2020 which was launched to enhance urban greenery, improve the quality of life, and increase social cohesion in cities. The scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh per hectare for the creation and maintenance of urban forests, encouraging the involvement of citizens, students and other stakeholders in managing these green spaces.

The size of the urban forests ranges between 10 and 50 hectares. Each urban forest must have at least two-thirds of its area under tree cover and include components such as biodiversity parks, Smriti Vans, butterfly conservatories, and herbal gardens and Matri Vans created under the Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam campaign.

Under this mass tree plantation special campaign, it is targeted to plant 80 crore trees this year by September end and 140 crores by next year March end.

Provision has been made on MeriLiFE portal for uploading details of plantation done by any individual or institution or organization private or government and tracking plantation efforts. More than 75 crore saplings have been planted by now under this campaign and detailed information has been uploaded on MeriLiFE portal, said the Ministry.

The Nagar Van Yojana aims to develop 1,000 urban forests by 2027 with financial support from the National Fund of the National Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority.

This initiative will help protect forest land within and around urban centres from degradation and encroachment and also address environmental concerns such as air pollution, urban heat islands, loss of biodiversity, and habitat degradation, said the Ministry.