Conservation projects for river dolphins, three other species get CAMPA nod

📌 Summary:

• The governing body of CAMPA (National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) on July 10, 2026 approved four new species conservation projects
• Approved projects: (1) conservation and recovery action plan for river dolphins; (2) Project Snow Leopard Phase-II, including a second cycle of population estimation; (3) conservation action plan for the Indian Rhinoceros; (4) a pan-India conservation approach for the wild water buffalo
• All four were recommended by the executive committee of the CAMPA national authority

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment — species-specific conservation and the use of compensatory afforestation funds for wildlife recovery

📝 Prelims Facts:

• CAMPA manages funds collected for compensatory afforestation under the CAF Act, 2016
• The Gangetic river dolphin is India's National Aquatic Animal (Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act)
• Snow leopard is found in the Himalayan high-altitude ranges; wild water buffalo is concentrated in Assam and Chhattisgarh

🔑 Key Term: Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) — a fund of monies paid by users diverting forest land, deployed for afforestation and forest/wildlife conservation