National CAMPA Authority

The National CAMPA Authority is the statutory body that administers compensatory afforestation funds at the Union level. Established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, it ensures that money received for diversion of forest land is planned, used and monitored for prescribed forest and wildlife-related purposes.

Statutory basis and fund architecture

The Act creates a National Compensatory Afforestation Fund in the Public Account of India and corresponding State Funds in the Public Accounts of the states. Of the money collected from user agencies, 90 percent is transferred to the concerned State Fund and 10 percent is credited to the National Fund.

• The collections include payments for compensatory afforestation, additional or penal compensatory afforestation and net present value of diverted forest land.
• CAMPA administers these funds; it does not itself grant approval for diversion of forest land.

Core mandate

The National Authority provides national-level direction for the effective and transparent use of compensatory afforestation money under the Act and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018.

• It manages and utilises the National Fund for activities permitted by law.
• It formulates broad policy guidelines for State CAMPA Authorities and scrutinises their annual plans of operation.
• It supports compensatory afforestation, assisted natural regeneration, forest protection, wildlife protection and related capacity-building activities.
• It monitors and evaluates works financed from CAMPA funds and provides technical assistance to states.

Accountability

CAMPA expenditure must follow approved plans and prescribed accounting procedures. Its accounts are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, strengthening legislative and financial oversight.