The Government of India has released a revised roadmap for the Green India Mission (GIM), a key component of the country’s efforts to tackle climate change and land degradation. First launched in 2014, the Green India Mission is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Its main goal is to increase forest and tree cover, improve ecosystem services, and support the livelihoods of communities dependent on forests.

• The revised roadmap, released in June 2025, expands the mission’s focus on ecologically fragile regions such as the Aravalli ranges, Western Ghats, Indian Himalayas, and mangrove ecosystems. It also aligns with India’s climate commitments to create a large carbon sink and restore degraded land.

Genesis and Objectives of the Green India Mission:

The Green India Mission was launched in 2014 with a clear climate-centric vision. It is designed to address climate change through forest-based interventions.

Core objectives include:

• Increasing forest and tree cover on both forest and non-forest land.
• Improving the quality of degraded forest areas.
• Enhancing ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water regulation, and biodiversity conservation.
• Supporting forest-dependent communities by increasing their income opportunities.
• Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030 through afforestation and eco-restoration.

The mission now targets afforestation on 24 million hectares of land by 2030.

Three Sub-Missions of GIM:

1.      Improving Forest Quality and Ecosystem Services:

This sub-mission aims to restore degraded forests, improve biodiversity, and strengthen water and soil resources.

2.      Increasing Forest and Tree Cover and Restoring Ecosystems:

It focuses on expanding forest cover through plantations on degraded forest lands, wastelands, and community lands.

3.     Enhancing and Diversifying Livelihoods of Forest-Dependent Communities:

Through the sustainable use of forest produce and eco-tourism, the mission aims to boost the incomes of local communities.

Implementation Strategy and Funding:

• The mission follows a bottom-up approach, meaning it relies on community involvement at the grassroots level.
• Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) are the primary implementing bodies, ensuring participation from local villagers and forest users.

Funding Sources:

• Part of the funds come from the central mission budget.
• Additional funding comes from the National CAMPA Fund (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority), which is used for afforestation and environmental conservation.

Timeline: The revised roadmap will be implemented over a 10-year period from 2021 to 2030.

Achievements of GIM So Far

Between 2015-16 and 2020-21, afforestation and tree plantation activities were carried out across 11.22 million hectares of land under various state and central schemes.

From 2019-20 to 2023-24, the central government released ₹624.71 crore to 18 states for GIM-related activities, out of which ₹575.55 crore was utilized.

These activities were focused in states identified through ecological vulnerability mapping, carbon sequestration potential, forest degradation levels, and restoration feasibility.

New Focus in the Revised Roadmap (2025):

The updated mission aims to restore and protect vulnerable landscapes through scientifically guided, location-specific interventions.

1. Aravalli Ranges

• Will be developed in collaboration with the Aravalli Green Wall Project.
• Restoration activities planned across 8 lakh hectares in 29 districts spanning 4 states.
• A 5-kilometre-wide buffer zone will be created around the Aravalli range, covering 6.45 million hectares.
• Activities will include planting of native species, grassland restoration, and revival of water catchment areas.
• Estimated project cost: ₹16,053 crore.
• This initiative will help reduce dust pollution and sandstorms, which have worsened due to forest loss in the region.

2. Western Ghats

• Focus on afforestation, groundwater recharge, and restoring abandoned mining areas.
• Aims to address deforestation and illegal mining impacts.

3. Indian Himalayas

• Regionally suitable eco-restoration methods will be used to prevent soil erosion and protect natural springs and rivers.

4. Mangrove Ecosystems

• Given their role in coastal protection and carbon storage, mangrove restoration is a key part of the mission.

Combating Land Degradation and Desertification

According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas (2018-19) published by ISRO:

• Around 97.85 million hectares (about 30% of India’s land) has undergone land degradation.

India has made a national-level commitment to:

• Restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

The revised Green India Mission is central to achieving this target, especially through the restoration of open forests and degraded ecosystems.

Carbon Sink Creation and Climate Commitments:

As part of its international commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India has pledged to:

• Create a carbon sink of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.

Progress so far:

• Between 2005 and 2021, India has already created a carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, according to the Environment Ministry.

According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI):

• Restoring 15 million hectares of open forests could result in 1.89 billion tonnes of CO₂ sequestration.
• If all ongoing schemes and restoration efforts are aligned under GIM, India could increase forest and tree cover up to 24.7 million hectares.
• This could generate a total carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030, exceeding India’s current target.

Key Strategies of the Green India Mission:

The revised mission includes several innovative strategies aligned with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

1. Micro-Ecosystem Approach

• Focuses on restoring highly vulnerable ecological zones such as:
• Aravallis
• Western Ghats
• Mangroves
• Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)
• Arid regions in northwest India

2. Involvement of Private Sector

• Encourages the use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for forest restoration.
• Private organisations and individuals can also support eco-restoration in partnership with local communities.

3. Use of Voluntary Carbon Markets

• Forestry and agroforestry projects under GIM can generate carbon credits.
• These credits can be sold in voluntary carbon markets, offering financial incentives for afforestation efforts.

4. Green India Force

• A dedicated team of trained and motivated youth volunteers will be created.
• This group will help in implementing the mission, maintaining forest assets, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Conclusion:

The revised Green India Mission is an ambitious and forward-looking programme that strengthens India’s response to climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. By focusing on ecological restoration, community participation, and climate mitigation, the mission aims to build healthier forests, protect fragile ecosystems, and contribute meaningfully to India’s national and global environmental goals.

With a robust implementation plan, involvement of multiple stakeholders, and measurable targets, the Green India Mission is not just about planting trees — it is about transforming landscapes, empowering people, and securing a sustainable future for the country.