Govt planning plantation of 6 million hectares of degraded forests

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Concerned over the country's shrinking forest cover, the Government is planning to take up plantation of over 6 million hectares of degraded forests to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, the Rajya Sabha was told today.

Replying to a question in the House, Minister of State for Environment and Forests S Regupathy said the drive would be taken up in two phases by utilising the money collected under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

''This has been known as Green India campaign,'' he added.

The money collected under CAMPA would be mainly used for site specific schemes approved for taking up compensatory afforestation, artificial regeneration and natural assisted regeneration, the Minister said.

''These activities besides greening the country would help in mitigating the effects of climate change,'' he added.

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