CONTEXT

• India faces rising ecological degradation and climate impacts across key ecosystems.
• Feedback from states and scientific bodies indicated the need for a region-specific, impact-driven roadmap.
• Revised GIM aligns with India’s international climate commitments, especially under the Paris Agreement.

CONCEPT: GREEN INDIA MISSION (GIM) OVERVIEW

• Launched in 2014 under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• Objectives:
  • Increase forest/tree cover on 5 million hectares.
  • Improve quality of forest cover on another 5 million hectares.
  • Enhance biodiversity, ecosystem services, and forest-based livelihoods.
• Focus on carbon sequestration, restoring degraded lands, and tackling desertification.
• Based on ecological vulnerability, restoration potential, and carbon storage mapping.

CURRENT: REVISED GIM HIGHLIGHTS (2025 UPDATE)

• Geographic Focus: Aravallis, Western Ghats, Himalayas, and mangroves.
• Aravalli Green Wall:
  • Combat desertification and dust pollution.
  • Covers 8 lakh hectares, spans 29 districts in 4 states, budget of ₹16,053 crore.
  • Buffer zone of 5 km, targeting 6.45 million hectares overall.
• Western Ghats:
  • Targets afforestation, groundwater recharge, and eco-restoration of mining areas.
• Carbon Sink Targets:
  • India’s NDC goal: Create 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ sink by 2030.
  • GIM can potentially expand forest/tree cover to 24.7 million hectares, sequestering 3.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ (FSI estimate).
• Funding & Implementation:
  • ₹624.71 crore released (2019–24); ₹575.55 crore utilized.
  • States prioritized based on degradation and sequestration potential.
• Results So Far:
  • 11.22 million hectares covered via afforestation (2015–2021).
  • 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent sequestered (2005–2021).
• Scientific Insights:
  • Open forest restoration is most cost-effective; potential to sequester 1.89 billion tonnes CO₂ on 15 million hectares.

Strategic Significance

• Supports India’s commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
• Boosts climate resilience, ecosystem health, and rural livelihoods.
• Integrates environmental sustainability with development goals.