The Himachal Pradesh government is according to high priority to enhance green cover and environmental protection. In order to increase the forest cover and provide livelihood to the people, 'Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecosystems Management and Livelihood Improvement Project' has been started in the state, which is yielding positive results. AIR correspondent reports that many schemes are being implemented by the Forest Department, which has resulted in an increase in the green cover of the state.<br />''<br />''Funded by the Japan International Cooperation agency JIACA, Rs 800 crore is being spent by the forest department on the project. The main aim of the 10-year project is forest growth, biodiversity conservation, strengthening institutional capacity and improving the economy of rural people. The project is being implemented in 16 forest circles of 18 forest divisions of 6 districts i.e Kinnaur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti. 81 rural forest committees have also been formed with the aim to ensure the participation of local people in the project. Under this project, medicinal plants like Chilgoja of Kinnaur and Seabuckthorn  (Chharma) of Spiti will be promoted. The target of planting more than one crore saplings of different species on 12 thousand hectares of forest land of the state has been set in this financial year. In order to achieve the target one crore 35 lakh saplings have been prepared in different nurseries across the state. <br />