Conrad K Sangma Launches GREEN Meghalaya Plus Scheme for Forest Conservation
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in the news? | Conrad K Sangma, Meghalaya Chief Minister, launched the GREEN Meghalaya Plus (GMP) Scheme. |
| Launched by | Conrad K Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya. |
| Objective | To expand forest conservation by offering monetary rewards for protecting forested areas, based on Payment for Ecosystem (PES) principles. |
| Scheme Coverage | Supports villages, communities, clans, or individuals committing to conserve and protect natural forests for a minimum of 30 years. |
| Expansion Target | Additional conservation of 50,000 hectares (500 sq km). |
| Participants | Over 3,000 individuals and communities conserved over 54,000 hectares under the scheme. |
| Changes in PES 2.0 | Minimum forest area reduced to 1 hectare. Annual reward increased to ₹20,000/hectare. Base compensation increased to ₹10,000/hectare. |
| Budget Allocation | ₹44 crore spent over the last two years. ₹200 crore earmarked for future conservation efforts. |
| About PES | Launched in 2022 to provide financial incentives for forest conservation. |
| Compensation Details | ₹8,000/hectare/year for 5 years. Additional ₹5,000/hectare/year for community reserves. Extra ₹2,000 for eco-sensitive forest zones. |
| Community Reserve Forest | State Government designates land as Community Reserve with local consent for biodiversity preservation and socio-economic enhancement. Managed by a community reserve management committee. |