ALL the eight North-Eastern states have requested the Centre to revert back to 100% central funding for Integrated Forest Protection Scheme. The states argued that as per the Supreme Court recommendations for consolidating the forest reserves in the North Eastern Region, the Ministry of Environment and Forests launched Integrated Forest Protection Scheme for the North Eastern States with 100% Central assistance. Now these Integrated Forest Protection Schemes of the Ministry have been extended to all other States of the country and are being implemented on 75-25 sharing basis where 25% is to be borne by the concerned State Governments. Demanded funds in line of police midernisation scheme, the states have appealed to the Centre that a Forest Modernisation Plan should be taken up by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for building and development of forest infrastructure including capacity building of forest personnel of the North Eastern States.

The states have also requested the Centre to introduce a new scheme on 100% Central share basis for the development of eco-tourism and also for livelihood support for the villagers living in the forest fringes and wildlife areas. At the same time, the NE states have also urged that MoEF should take up the responsibility for overall socio-economic development of the forest fringe villages/forest villages so as to win the confidence and support of the local community for the cause of Forest Conservation. As forest villages are devoid of basic amenities the states argued that non-conventional energy measures like Biomass Gasifiers, Energy plantations may be adopted for these villages. Government of India has notified Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for the purpose of management of money receivable towards compensatory afforestation, net present value, etc. in lieu of diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes. The Authority to receive, deposit, release and manage the fund relating to compensatory afforestation, NPV, etc. should be vested with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests /Nodal Officer of the concerned NE States as a special case. The afforestation component of the fund may be utilised through the Forest Development Agencies, the states argued.

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