The way forward for West Bengal’s greening
West Bengal's ambitious tree-planting target under Aranya Saptaha and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is critiqued for its focus on numbers over ecological suitability and biodiversity. The article advocates for a shift from top-down plantation drives to a restoration model based on community participation (Joint Forest Management Committees - JFMCs), quality seedlings, addressing human resource gaps, transparency, and long-term financial planning, drawing lessons from past successes like Bankura and Arabari. It emphasizes the need for a science-based approach tailored to West Bengal's diverse ecosystems, rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.
West Bengal's ambitious tree-planting target under Aranya Saptaha and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is critiqued for its focus on numbers over ecological suitability and biodiversity. The article advocates for a shift from top-down plantation drives to a restoration model based on community participation (Joint Forest Management Committees - JFMCs), quality seedlings, addressing human resource gaps, transparency, and long-term financial planning, drawing lessons from past successes like Bankura and Arabari. It emphasizes the need for a science-based approach tailored to West Bengal's diverse ecosystems, rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 3: Environment & Ecology (Conservation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors).
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Environment & Ecology come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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