History of CAMPA – as recorded in a Supreme Court Judgment S S Nijjar, J. and Infrastructure Growth Vs Compensatory Afforestation in Uttarakhand a-trade-off under the CAMPA

Uttarakhand, with its rich forests and biodiversity, has faced an ongoing battle between development and conservation. While compensatory afforestation under CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) was meant to offset deforestation caused by infrastructure projects, challenges like mismanagement of funds, lack of land for afforestation, and slow implementation have limited its impact. Major forest diversions have been for roads, hydropower projects, and urban expansion. Community-managed Van Panchayats, which have historically played a vital role in forest conservation, now face increasing restrictions, causing friction between local people and the forest department. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016, aimed at streamlining fund allocation, has improved financial transparency, but many hurdles remain.

A Look at the Journey So Far: The idea of compensatory afforestation was introduced in the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, ensuring that any forest land used for non-forest purposes had to be replaced elsewhere. However, implementation was weak until 2002, when the Supreme Court stepped in to create Ad-hoc CAMPA, which later became a permanent structure with the CAF Act, 2016. This law requires industries and agencies to pay into CAMPA funds whenever they use forest land. The funds are then meant for afforestation, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem restoration.

Despite large sums collected, finding land for afforestation is a major issue. Uttarakhand has even considered afforestation in neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Additionally, the gap between policy and execution remains wide, with funds often lying unutilized due to bureaucratic delays.

To make CAMPA truly effective, there needs to be better community involvement, stronger monitoring systems, and a shift from paperwork-heavy processes to real action on the ground. Balancing conservation with development is the key to ensuring Uttarakhand’s forests thrive for future generations.

Keywords: CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority), Afforestation, Uttarakhand, Deforestation, Forest Conservation, Biodiversity, Compensatory Fund, Ecological Balance, Van Panchayat, Environmental Protection