G Phanindra Kumar Rao, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1997 Kerala cadre, has been appointed to the newly created ex-cadre post of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Nodal Officer for the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). The appointment, which will be effective from November 12, 2024, is for a one-year term.
This prestigious position has been designated at Level 15 of the Pay Matrix, with a pay scale ranging from Rs. 182,200 to Rs. 224,100. It has also been declared to be equivalent in both status and responsibility to the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration).
Currently awaiting his posting, Rao’s appointment to the CAMPA nodal officer role is expected to enhance the implementation of key environmental initiatives in the country, focusing on compensatory afforestation and forest management projects.
The ex-cadre position is a significant step in further strengthening India’s efforts to manage and protect its forest resources, as well as ensuring effective coordination across various environmental bodies and agencies.