7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA

Environment

News –

The 7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA in Coimbatore marked a shift from conventional compensatory afforestation toward landscape-based ecological restoration.

Outcomes –

Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana (AVSY) was approved with an initial corpus of ₹3,000 crore (2026–31) to conserve nearly 15,000 sacred groves (Aastha Vans).
MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) was extended for three years until 2029, with an added ₹500 crore, taking the total outlay to ₹600 crore.

Four wildlife recovery programmes were approved

Objective – to strengthen scientific monitoring, anti-poaching measures, and habitat restoration:
Gangetic Dolphins: Recovery action plan focused on major freshwater river systems.
Project Snow Leopard Phase-II: Including the 2nd nationwide population estimate in the Himalaya.
Indian Rhinoceros: Conservation plan for habitat protection and anti-poaching enforcement.
Wild Water Buffalo: Scientific habitat management to secure the remaining population.
Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer): Continued financial and operational support for conservation.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA)

It was established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (in force 2018).
Objective – to collect and administer funds for ecological compensation of diverted forest land.
Genesis: Supreme Court, in T.N. Godavarman, constituted an ad hoc CAMPA by its 2006 order to manage unspent afforestation collections.
Two Tiers: (1) National CAMPA Authority, headed by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, sets policy, while (2) State CAMPA Authorities execute field operations.
Liability: Agencies diverting forest land must provide alternative land, fund compensatory afforestation, and pay the Net Present Value (NPV) of the lost forest ecosystem.
Fund Uses: Artificial and natural regeneration, wildlife management, catchment treatment, village relocation from protected areas, and human-wildlife conflict management.

Science & Technology

News –

A widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been reported in the United States.

About –

- Responsible pathogen- Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne intestinal illness caused by the microscopic, single-celled protozoan parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
- Transmission: Strictly fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.
- No Direct Person-to-Person Spread: Excreted parasite eggs require days to weeks in the environment to mature and become infectious.

Symptoms: Severe, explosive watery diarrhea, fatigue, cramps, and weight loss.
High-Risk Groups: Immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and young children.
Diagnosis: Missed by routine stool cultures; requires special staining, UV fluorescence microscopy, or PCR.
Treatment: Treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). No vaccine exists.

Polity

News –

Marking ICAR’s 98th Foundation Day, the Union Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the “Developed Agriculture and Prosperous Farmers” roadmap as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Outcomes-

100 Climate-Smart Villages: Developing at least 100 villages before ICAR’s centenary to demonstrate climate-resilient farming, water conservation, and risk-reduction models.
One Institute-One Grand Innovation: Mandating every ICAR institute deliver at least one breakthrough technological innovation, vaccine, or crop variety within two years.
Mission ICAR-100: Transforming Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) into innovation hubs for large-scale demonstrations, with each KVK visiting at least 100 villages.
ICAR Open Digital Knowledge Platform: Creating a mobile-first platform providing free crop advisories, soil-test results, and instructional videos via smartphones.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Established in 1929 (originally as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research),
ICAR is the apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Union Agriculture Minister serves as the ICAR Society’s ex officio President, and the Minister of State for Agriculture serves as Vice-President.