Schemes under Ministry of Environment & Forests

1. Introduction
2. About the Scheme
3. Why urban forestry
4.  Need for protection

Introduction

• On the occasion of World Environment Day, the government today announced implementation of the Nagar van scheme to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in next five years with a renewed focus on people’s participation and collaboration between Forest Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, Corporates and local citizens.
• With biodiversity the theme of World Environment Day (WED), the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) has launched ‘Nagar Van’ (city forest) scheme.

About Nagar Van scheme

• The scheme emphasises on urban forestry.
• Under the scheme, around 200 urban forests are to be developed all over the country in the next five years.
• The scheme will also provide an opportunity to the states to manage urban ecosystems.

Why urban forestry?

• Biodiversity conservation has traditionally been considered confined to remote forest areas but with increasing urbanisation a need has arisen to safeguard and save biodiversity in urban areas also.
• Urban forest is the best way to bridge this gap. Hence, this scheme.

Need for protection

• India is endowed with rich biodiversity having several species of animals and plants and hosts 4 of the 35 global bio-diversity hotspots containing several endemic species.
• However, increasing population, deforestation, urbanisation and industrialisation have put our natural resources under tremendous pressure causing loss of biodiversity.
• Biodiversity is vital for survival of all life form on this planet and is a key to providing various ecological services.

1. Introduction
2. About the Scheme
3. Background
4. Target
5. Implementation
6. Green skills
7. Why Green skills

Introduction

In its bid to create over five lakh job opportunities by 2021 through green skills, the government has launched GSPD-ENVIS mobile app to begin enrolments in 30 expert course under its Green Skill Development Programme (GSPD).

Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP):

• GSDP is a recent initiative under the ENVIS scheme for skilling the youth in the country.
• It is an initiative for skill development in the environment and forest region by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to develop India’s youth into employable and/or self-employment, making use of the widespread network and experience of ENVIS Hubs/RPs.
• The programme endeavours to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to sustainable development.
• It will help in the attainment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs), as well as Waste Management Rules (2016).

Background

• The pilot project of GSDP was launched in June, 2017, for skilling Biodiversity Conservationists (Basic Course) and Para-taxonomists (Advance Course) of 3 months duration each at 10 locations, spread over 9 bio-geographic regions of the country.
• 94 trainees successfully completed the basic course qualifying as skilled Biodiversity Conservationists and 152 Trainees completed the Advanced Course qualifying as skilled Para-taxonomists.
• ENVIS RPs in Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and their respective regional offices were the nodal Centres for the pilot programme.
• Based on the feedback received from the stakeholders, the GSDP is being scaled up to an all-India level.
• The Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) has been conceptualised and developed in MoEF&CC in consultation with the National Skill Development Agency.

Target

The number of people to be covered under GSDP will be 80,000 during 2018-19, 2.25 lakh during 2019-20 and about 5 lakh people by the year 2021.

More than 30 programmes have been identified, which will be conducted in 84 institutions across the country.

Implementation

• Realizing the need for developing the green skills, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is utilising the vast network and expertise of Environmental Information System (ENVIS) hubs and Resource Partners (RPs).
• ENVIS is a decentralized network of 66 centres of which 31 Centres dealing with ‘”State of the Environment and Related Issues” are hosted by State Government /UT Administrations called ENVIS Hubs and remaining 35 Centres are hosted by environment-related governmental and non-governmental organisations.
• The skilling programmes cover diverse fields such as pollution monitoring (air/water/soil), Sewage Treatment Plant, Effluent Treatment Plants and Common Effluent Treating Plants (STP/ETP/CETP) operation, waste management, forest management, water budgeting, auditing, conservation of river dolphins, wildlife management, para taxonomy, including Peoples’ Biodiversity Register (PBRs), mangroves conservation, bamboo management and livelihood generation.
• The duration of the courses ranges from 80 hours to 560 hours approx.
• In the first stage, a pool of Master Trainers/Specialists is being created, who can further train the youth across the country.
• All courses will be National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) compliant.

• The Ministry will give Certificates indicating the skilling levels to all successful candidates.

What are Green Skills?

• Green skills are those skills required to adapt processes, services and products to climate change and the environmental rules and necessities related to it.
• They embrace the information, abilities, values and attitudes required to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
• India is the second most populous country in the world is bestowed with a large working population.

Why Green Skills?

• Even though India has an advantage of reaping this demographic dividend but high drop-out rates from school coupled with poor vocational skills may hinder in reaping this dividend.
• There exists a demand-supply gap of skill sets, both cognitive and practical, at various levels in the Environment/ Forest fields in India.
• Green skilling is crucial for making a transition from energy and emissions – intensive economy to cleaner and greener production and service patterns.
• It also prepares people for green jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment, while improving human well being and social equity.
• These skills are needed in areas like sewer water treatment, Climate resilient cities, green construction, Solid waste management etc.