The Ministry of Environment and Forests released a draft of the Green India Mission, one of the missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The mission aims to increase India's forest cover all across the country between 2010 and 2020. The cost of the mission is 44,000 crore over the next ten years.

The objective is to double the area taken up for afforestation to 20 million hectares by 2020 and increase greenhouse gas removals by forests to 6.35 percent of annual emissions by 2020. It also hopes to address climate change by improving the ability of vulnerable species and ecosystems to adapt to a changing climate, as also of forest dependent people.

Consultations for the draft mission will begin by 11th of June, all across India.

Links: News - Draft national mission for Green India released - India outlines forest restoration plan - Green India Mission to double afforestation efforts by 2020 - India unveils draft of National Green Mission - Draft national mission released for green India Green India Mission - Report - Schedule for public consultations

Tags: Green India Mission, carbon sink, India forests, afforestation, reforestation, Jairam Ramesh, Ministry of Environment and Forests