Real Time Monitoring Instead of Expenditure Monitoring for Green Cover: Jairam Ramesh
A Family of Satellites Dedicated to Monitor Green Cover
Green India Mission(GIM) is an unusual Mission which has a preparatory phase for one year. Other Missions under eight missions under India’s National Action Plan announced by the Prime Minister have ongoing programmes which are taken forward. So this is an opportunity for capacity building and variety of other services. Addressing the Brain Storming Session Green India Mission here today, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Styate for Environment and Forests (I/C) said, “The target is to increase 5m ha of forest and non-forest land and improve quality of forest cover on another 5m ha of non-forest lands. Over next ten years it will be 10 m ha. Late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi launched this project in January, 1985 to cover 5 m ha of waste land to bring under green cover every year. We are far behind from the original objective. We should work on realistic and credible targets and achieve them.” The Minister reiterated that we have to think differently for this work. He said, “I propose a fundamental shift in mindset from our traditional focus of merely increasing the quantity of our forest cover, towards increasing the quality of our forest cover and improving provision of ecosystem services.”
Talking about other shifts, Shri Ramesh said, “Take holistic view of greening, not merely focus on plantations. The implementation of its programmes are by Gram Sabhas with the technical and managerial support of the forest service personnel. The Money will directly go to Gram Sabhas and not to forests Departments. The restructured JFMCs will play a very important role in this. The need for us is to ensure that it hould be seen as a programme of local elected bodies in which forest Department will play a very important role.” Shri Ramesh suggested monitoring on Brazilian model which is based on real time monitoring instead of expenditure monitoring. He said that it is absolutely essential and we must be honest to our selves. GIM will bring an opportunity for revolutionizing in system of monitoring as a family of forestry satellites dedicated to monitor green cover will be launched soon and ISRO is working towards it. They will help to make sensible conclusions for work and progress of forestry programmes.The Environment Minister added that first priority must be given to prepare work agenda for 2011-12 for GIM .
Earlier Shri T Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests highlighted few points for future possible success of the Mission. He said, “Despite its Climate Change related ideas, it is primarily an anti-poverty programme. It addresses livelihood problem of about 15 million poor people. It will help in implementing the Forests Right Act. Its success will depend on support from Panchayats and Gramsabhas which are the basic units of administration at grass root level.”
He said, “GIM goes beyond mere plantation. It encompasses the restoration of degraded zones. The programme is people oriented. This programme will train community youth to maintain and take forward the fruits of investments in this Mission. Around 13,000 vacancies in forest areas will be filled by the States soon. Economics of manging forest service is important. Monetary evaluation of certain areas, recharged water users from sub-watershed and micro-water shed projects should be charged as per grade of consumption to protect local community.”
P J Dileep Kumar, Director General, Forests and Special Secretary said, “Green India Mission is not a project, but it is a mission. We are here to exchange our views in the process of finalizing and reformulating the document for Green India Mission. It is plan for a period of 10 years.” He clarified,”In the sector of forestry, any results are not apparent in short term, but will be seen after a long term. This is an inclusive Mission which has to have a role for all sections of society. It has to address not only forest areas, but also wetlands, urban areas, natural eco-systems, grasslands and has to see livelihood issues.”
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