Examine the evolution of CAMPA from a compensatory afforestation mechanism to a vehicle for species-specific conservation. Discuss with recent examples.

Q. Examine the evolution of CAMPA from a compensatory afforestation mechanism to a vehicle for species-specific conservation. Discuss with recent examples. (15 marks, 250-350 words)

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 gave statutory form to CAMPA, channelling levies and Net Present Value (NPV) realised from user agencies diverting forest land into forest restoration [2]. A decade on, this fund-manager has matured into an instrument of targeted, species-centred conservation.

Original design: a compensation mechanism - Born of Supreme Court directions and codified in 2016, it created national and State funds, with 90% devolved to States and 10% retained centrally [2]. - The logic was like-for-like restitution — plantations and regeneration to offset diverted forest — making CAMPA a fund manager rather than a designer of conservation programmes [3]. - Even the Act, however, permitted use for wildlife protection, seeding the later widening [2].

The shift towards species and habitats - CAMPA money began financing scientific conservation research, not merely plantation targets. - The first-ever satellite tagging of a Ganges river dolphin in Assam — by the Wildlife Institute of India with the Assam Forest Department and Aaranyak, funded by National CAMPA — was a global first for the species [4].

Recent examples: the species turn institutionalised - The 7th Governing Body meeting (Coimbatore, July 2026) cleared four national projects: a river dolphin recovery action plan, Project Snow Leopard Phase-II with a second population estimation cycle, an Indian rhinoceros action plan, and a pan-India wild water buffalo approach [1]. - The Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, ₹3,000 crore (2026–31), targets nearly 15,000 sacred groves, mainstreaming community faith-based conservation [1].

Persisting constraints - Digital Annual Plans of Operation and fund-utilisation dashboards improve transparency [1], yet the CAG (2013) finding that State forest departments lack planning and implementation capacity still limits absorption of the States' 90% share [2].

CAMPA's trajectory shows compensation money maturing into ecological investment, aligning with Article 48A and SDG 15. Strengthening State-level technical capacity, outcome-based audit and community stewardship would let this shift deliver measurable recovery of India's flagship species and their habitats.

(~315 words)

Sources: 1. Shri Bhupendra Yadav chairs the 7th Meeting of Governing Body of National CAMPA, Coimbatore — PIB, 10 July 2026 — four species projects, Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana (₹3,000 crore, ~15,000 sacred groves), Digital APO and dashboards 2. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015 / Act, 2016 — PRS Legislative Research — fund architecture, NPV, 90:10 sharing, permitted use for wildlife protection, CAG 2013 finding on State capacity 3. CAMPA: the fund manager to manage proper afforestation — PIB — CAMPA's original role as fund manager for compensatory afforestation 4. India Conducts First-ever Ganges River Dolphin Tagging in Assam — PIB — CAMPA-funded satellite tagging by WII, Assam Forest Department and Aaranyak