The 7th Governing Body meeting of National CAMPA was held on 10 July 2026 at CASFOS, Coimbatore. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupendra Yadav chaired the session. The meeting reviewed the Authority’s performance and approved several new projects for wildlife protection and forest restoration.
Key Developments
- Approval of four new wildlife‑conservation projects for river dolphins, snow leopards, Indian rhinoceros and wild water buffalo.
- Launch of the Digital APO for FY 2026‑27, requiring all states to file plans digitally.
- Operationalisation of a dedicated GIS Lab for scientific monitoring of projects.
- Progress on the Harit‑SANKALP Portal that links seed sources to planting sites.
- Extension of the MISHTI programme with an additional Rs 500 crore, raising total outlay to Rs 600 crore till 2029.
- Release of Rs 571.50 crore for the Nagar Van Yojana, resulting in 652 new urban green spaces.
- Inauguration of the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana with a corpus of Rs 3,000 crore for protecting ~15,000 sacred groves.
Important Facts
The Governing Body examined the progress of CA and NPV activities across states and Union Territories for FY 2025‑26. It also noted the Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit giving a true‑and‑fair view of the Authority’s accounts for FY 2024‑25.
Exam Relevance
Understanding National CAMPA is essential for GS‑III (Environment & Ecology) as it links forest governance, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation. The approved wildlife projects illustrate India’s commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the National Biodiversity Action Plan, topics frequently asked in GS‑III. The use of digital tools like Digital APO and GIS Lab reflects the growing role of technology in environmental administration, a theme in both GS‑III and GS‑IV (Ethics & Governance).
Way Forward
States and UTs should promptly adopt the Digital APO to ensure timely fund utilisation. Strengthening the GIS Lab will improve monitoring and reduce leakages. Continued financial support to the newly approved wildlife projects will help meet India’s targets under the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the post‑2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Finally, integrating community participation through schemes like Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana will enhance local stewardship of forests.