Bihar Reviews Green Credit Program to Boost Tree Plantation and Environmental Sustainability

Chirag Gupta

Patna: A review meeting on the Green Credit Program was held at Aranya Bhawan under the chairmanship of Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar. Senior officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and regional representatives, participated in the meeting. Regional officials joined through video conferencing to discuss the program’s objectives and progress.

The Green Credit Rules, notified by the Government of India on October 12, 2023, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, aim to promote voluntary tree plantation and create a wasteland inventory for afforestation programs. Highlighting the program’s importance, the minister emphasised its role in fostering environmental sustainability by awarding Green Credits to individuals and organisations contributing to ecological conservation and climate change mitigation.

The meeting focused on creating a land bank for tree plantations accessible via a web portal. Degraded forest lands will be registered by forest departments, encouraging participation from enterprises, NGOs, private institutions, and individuals. The minister stressed the need to achieve the 880-hectare afforestation target in Munger, Rohtas, Kaimur, Nawada, Banka, and Gaya forest divisions promptly and urged officials to expedite the approval of additional schemes under the Green Credit Program.

Green Credits serve as a major incentive for tree plantation efforts, aligning with India’s commitment to enhancing green cover and promoting climate-positive actions. The program represents a significant step toward building a sustainable future and increasing the state’s forest cover.