CAMPA – Full Form, Fund, Act, CAMPA UPSC
By Balaji
Updated on: May 18th, 2023
CAMPA or Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority is Indian legislation enacted to enable the utilization of funds accumulated through penalties on the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. CAMPA Act provides for the “establishment of National and State Compensatory Afforestation Funds under the Public Account of India and each State.”
The funds are collected from the payment for NPV (net present value of the forest, compensatory afforestation, and other project-specific payments. CAMPA Act compensates for the loss of areas covered by the forest. Besides this, the CAMPA Act is responsible for maintaining sustainable forests. In this article we will delve deeper into CAMPA Fund, Act, and its core objectives that are highly relevent as per UPSC exam prespective.
Table of content
What is CAMPA?
The CAMPA bill is a comprehensive legislative framework for managing and utilizing funds accruing to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The entire amount collected as “compensatory afforestation” lies with the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
CAMPA UPSC Notes
The compensatory afforestation fund receives money from persons who divert forest land to non-forestry uses. The money is then used to conserve, regenerate, or improve different types of forest resources and provide green cover instead of forests redirected to other services.
CAMPA Objectives
The main objective of the CAMPA is to ensure speedy afforestation and regeneration of forest areas diverted for non-forest purposes and raise the country’s forest cover. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) shall be used for:
- Afforestation, regeneration, assisted natural regeneration, catchment area treatment plan, and wildlife protection works in degraded forest areas, including reserved forests, protected forests, forest conservation, community reserves, outside forests, and non-forest areas.
- Ensuring livelihood security and augmentation of income of local people through the generation of community assets based on waste/degraded land.
- Afforestation, regeneration, or assisted natural regeneration on private lands subject to conditions that may be prescribed by the Central Government.
What is State CAMPA?
The instrumenting body or the authority responsible for performing and fastening the activities of the establishment of funds under each State’s public accounts and India’s public accounts. In 2008, after the Supreme Court’s invention, State CAMPA was established in each Union Territories/State of India. The State CAMPA is responsible for administering the money received from SCAF. After the administration, the State CAMPA utilizes the collected amount for
- Wildlife conservation and protection
- Infrastructure development
- Assisted natural regeneration
- Compensatory afforestation and similar activities.
Structure of the Governing body of State CAMPA
The structure of the Governing body of the State CAMPA is as follows-
| List of Members | State CAMPA Designation |
| Secretary (Forests) | Member Secretary |
| Chief Minister | Chairperson |
| Chief Wildlife Warden | Member |
| Principal Chief Conservator of Forests | Member |
| Principal Secretary (Planning) | Member |
| Principal Secretary (Finance) | Member |
| Chief Secretary | Member |
| Minister of Planning | Member |
| Minister of Finance | Member |
| Minister of Forests | Member |
What is CAMPA Fund?
The CAMPA Fund is a monetary compensation value deposited by the authorities along with the deposition of the land’s net value per the CAMPA Law for diverting the forest land for non-forest purposes. The creation of the CAMPA fund was ordered by the Supreme Court of India in 2020. In order to manage the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), CAMPA was established in 2004. However, this acts as CAMPA Fund’s custodian.
In August 2019, 47,436 crores of Rupees were handed by the Indian government to the various Indian States as CAMPA Funds with the primary objective of helping the country in achieving the afforestation objective. These funds are part of the compensatory Afforestation and are long-pending dues collected from the industries as environmental compensation for nearly a decade.
How will the CAMPA Help Increase Forest Cover in India?
The fund will be used for compensatory afforestation, additional compensatory afforestation, penal compensatory afforestation, the net present value of forest (NPV), and other activities.
- It will help speed up the implementation of compensatory afforestation and other related activities on the ground.
- It will help bring investments in large-scale plantation and forest conservation activities.
The funds will be utilized for afforestation, regeneration, conservation, and protection of forest areas and improvement in wildlife habitats. They will also be used to meet the cost of other works and activities concerning compensatory afforestation.
CAMPA Act Key Provision
The key provision that the CAMPA Act brings in is using this fund to meet the expenses incurred by the state governments on afforestation, rehabilitation of wildlife habitats, and eco-restoration activities. The Act puts a cap on the money used for compensatory afforestation.
The CAMPA Act will give a boost to evergreen forests in India. Afforestation and eco-restoration activities are imminent to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and mitigate climate change. The money from this fund can be used for undertaking various related activities.
CAMPA UPSC
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) plays a pivotal role in the realm of environmental conservation and sustainable development in India. Its significance in the UPSC exam lies in the conservation section of GS papers. Various questions related to CAMPA have been asked in UPSC Previous Year Question Paper. Aspirants need to cover this topic comprehensively with the help of the best books, and notes to ensure they answer the questions related to CAMPA easily. Aspirants should focus on its CAPMA fund, act, and its importance to enhance their UPSC exam preparation.
CAMPA UPSC Questions
Question: CAMPA was established in India to: a) Promote wildlife conservation b) Ensure sustainable forest management c) Regulate mining activities d) Facilitate coastal zone management
Answer: b) Ensure sustainable forest management
Question: The primary source of funds for CAMPA is: a) Donations from private organizations b) Grants from international organizations c) Compensatory afforestation charges d) Revenue generated from tourism activities in forests
Answer: c) Compensatory afforestation charges
Question CAMPA is administered by: a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change b) Ministry of Rural Development c) Ministry of Tribal Affairs d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer: a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Question: CAMPA funds are utilized for: a) Compensating forest dwellers for land acquisition b) Promoting sustainable agriculture in forest areas c) Undertaking afforestation and reforestation activities d) Constructing infrastructure for wildlife protection
Answer: c) Undertaking afforestation and reforestation activities
