Chief Minister today honoured Village Forest Management Societies (VFMS) from Kangra and Chamba districts for their exceptional contributions to forest conservation under the KFW-funded project. The felicitation ceremony was held in Dehra, Kangra, with the presence of senior officials and public representatives.
Societies including VFMS Lagdu, Chambhar, Bhated, Jaini Masroor-2, Bhatth, Baldoa, and Naushera were recognized for their consistent efforts over three years. Awards ranged from ₹1 lakh at the state level to ₹50,000 at the division level, acknowledging key activities such as tree plantation, removal of invasive lantana weed, and community-based forest management.
CM Sukhu highlighted the impact of the initiative, stating that over 61,000 saplings have been planted on 8,300 hectares, with further land revitalized through weed clearance. He applauded the 307 active Forest Development Committees driving this initiative, emphasizing their grassroots leadership in environmental protection.
He underlined the urgency of forest conservation for climate resilience, water source protection, biodiversity preservation, and sustainable livelihoods. Himachal Pradesh, he noted, holds a unique ecological identity with 28% forest cover and over 68% of its area legally recorded as forest land.
The Chief Minister announced that ₹22.5 crore in performance-based grants will be directly transferred to the best-performing committees, with ₹2.5 crore already disbursed.
Appealing to the youth, he urged greater participation in conservation efforts, stressing the need for balance between development and ecological responsibility. He concluded that the project, set to be completed by March 2026, is a model for how policy, innovation, and community engagement can achieve impactful environmental outcomes.
