Why in News?
The Governing Body of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (National CAMPA) approved four new wildlife conservation projects. The projects will be funded under a new scheme with an initial corpus of ₹3,000 crore over five years.
What is the New CAMPA Scheme?
- Approved by: National CAMPA Governing Body
- Initial Corpus: ₹3,000 crore
- Duration: 5 years
- Objective: Strengthen the conservation and recovery of threatened wildlife species across India.
Four Conservation Projects Approved
| Project | Objective |
|---|---|
| River Dolphin Conservation Project | Conservation and Recovery Action Plan for river dolphins |
| Project Snow Leopard – Phase II | Conservation and second cycle of population estimation |
| Indian Rhinoceros Conservation Action Plan | Long-term conservation and habitat protection |
| Wild Water Buffalo Conservation Project | Pan-India conservation strategy for the species |
Species Covered
River Dolphin
- National Aquatic Animal of India.
- Primarily found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system.
- Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Snow Leopard
- Found in the Himalayan region.
- Phase II includes the second nationwide population estimation.
- State animal of Ladakh.
Indian Rhinoceros
- Also known as the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros.
- Largest population found in Assam (Kaziranga National Park).
Wild Water Buffalo
- Found mainly in Assam and Chhattisgarh.
- Focus on a pan-India conservation approach.
What is National CAMPA?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority |
| Ministry | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
| Purpose | Management and utilization of Compensatory Afforestation Funds |
| Legal Basis | Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016 |
Objectives of the New Scheme
- Protect threatened wildlife species.
- Restore and improve critical habitats.
- Strengthen scientific monitoring and population assessment.
- Promote long-term conservation planning.
- Support biodiversity conservation across India.
