Which of the following State Forest Department was launched to promote afforestation and restoration activities to compensate for the forests being taken for non-forest uses?

Appeared in: UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Explanation

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Land Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) was specifically created to manage funds for 'compensatory afforestation'.
This is a legal requirement under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, for any entity that diverts forest land for non-forest projects (e.g., mining, industry, infrastructure).
The funds collected are used for afforestation, regeneration of degraded forests, and wildlife protection activities to offset the ecological loss caused by the diversion of forest land.
It operates at both the national level (National CAMPA) and state level (State CAMPA) to execute these activities.

Option B: The National Afforestation Program (NAP) is a broader scheme focused on the rehabilitation of degraded forests and forest fringe areas through community participation. It is not a compensatory mechanism for forest land diverted for industrial or development projects.
Option C: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the overarching government ministry responsible for all environmental and forestry policies and laws in India. It is a policy-making body, not the specific authority that manages compensatory funds.
Option D: The National Forestry Program (NFP) refers to a comprehensive policy framework or strategy for sustainable forest management. It is a set of goals and strategies, not a specific fund or authority for managing compensatory levies.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Compensatory Afforestation Mechanisms in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
CAMPA institutionalizes the 'polluter pays' principle for forest resources, ensuring that developmental activities that impact forests are held financially accountable for the ecological damage.
It provides a dedicated and legally mandated financial mechanism to mitigate the unavoidable loss of forest cover, aiming for 'no net loss' of forests.
This framework is crucial for balancing the country's developmental needs with its environmental conservation commitments.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concepts in the question stem. The most important words are 'compensate' for forests taken for 'non-forest uses'.
Next, scan the options to see if any of them directly relate to this key concept.
Observe that Option A, 'Compensatory Afforestation Fund Land Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)', explicitly contains the word 'Compensatory', directly matching the question's core idea.
Differentiate this specific authority from the other options. MoEF is a broad ministry, while NAP and NFP are general programs or policies. The question asks for the specific entity launched for compensation.
Conclude that the authority with 'Compensatory' in its name is the most logical and direct answer to a question about compensation for forest loss.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Compensatory Afforestation Mechanisms in India
Stem keywords: State Forest Department, afforestation, restoration, compensate, non-forest uses
Lead-in keywords: Which of the following

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Practise the full UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.