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Relevance: GS-III (Environment Conservation, Biodiversity, Environmental Impact Assessment) Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, 2026

1 · What exactly happened?

In a recent high-level meeting in Coimbatore, the National CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) officially approved four special conservation projects to protect some of India’s most vulnerable wildlife species.

Along with these targeted animal recovery plans, the authority also greenlit a massive new green scheme called the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, backed by a huge initial fund of ₹3,000 crore over five years to restore sacred forests across the country.

2 · The Four Guardian Species (Prelims Focus)

All four species selected by CAMPA are protected under the highest tier of Indian law: Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. Here is why each of these magnificent animals desperately needs our attention:

Endangered
Gangetic River Dolphin
India’s National Aquatic Animal. Found primarily in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems, CAMPA has approved detailed new studies and a specific recovery action plan to save this blind, freshwater swimmer.
Vulnerable
Snow Leopard
The ghost of the mountains! CAMPA approved Phase-II of Project Snow Leopard, which includes a complete population counting exercise across its high-altitude Himalayan habitats (like Hemis National Park).
Vulnerable
Indian Rhinoceros
A dedicated conservation action plan was finalized for the Great One-Horned Rhino. While largely concentrated in Assam (Kaziranga) and West Bengal, this plan focuses heavily on long-term habitat security.
Endangered
Wild Water Buffalo
Mostly restricted to Assam (Kaziranga, Manas) and parts of Chhattisgarh. CAMPA approved a pan-India approach to save them from their biggest threat: genetic dilution caused by interbreeding with domestic cattle.

  • What is CAMPA? Think of it as an environmental bank account. Under the CAF Act, 2016, whenever forest land is cut down for development (like mining or roads), the company must pay a heavy fee. CAMPA uses this exact money to grow new forests and save wildlife.
  • Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana: This is a brilliant ₹3,000 crore scheme running from 2026 to 2031. It aims to restore nearly 15,000 sacred groves across India.
  • Why Sacred Groves matter: These are forest patches protected by local village communities for generations due to spiritual beliefs. By funding them directly, the government is mixing traditional wisdom with modern scientific conservation.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
CAF Act, 2016 Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act. It ensures that money collected from diverting forest land is strictly spent on environmental restoration, not general government expenses.
Net Present Value (NPV) The mandatory monetary charge a developer must pay to compensate for the lost ecological services (like oxygen and soil preservation) when a forest is destroyed.
Aastha Vans Another name for sacred groves—forests preserved by communities through religious reverence, serving as vital biodiversity hotspots.
Panchamrit Goal Alignment Growing new forests through CAMPA directly creates “carbon sinks,” helping India reach its international target of Net-Zero emissions by 2070.
Hemis National Park Located in Ladakh, it is globally famous as one of the prime habitats and breeding grounds for the endangered Snow Leopard.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to wildlife conservation and the CAMPA framework in India, consider the following statements:

  1. Both the Gangetic River Dolphin and the Wild Water Buffalo are officially classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List.
  2. The Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana is a government scheme primarily aimed at promoting commercial timber farming on degraded forest lands.
  3. Under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, funds collected for forest diversion can be utilized by state governments for general municipal development.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only    (b) 1 and 2 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: Both the Gangetic River Dolphin and the Wild Water Buffalo are listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the WPA, 1972. (Snow Leopard and Indian Rhino are ‘Vulnerable’).
  • Statement 2 — Incorrect (the trap): The Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana is specifically aimed at conserving and restoring traditional sacred groves with community participation, not commercial timber logging.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect: The CAF Act strictly forbids using compensatory afforestation money for non-forestry purposes like municipal works, infrastructure, or general government revenue.
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