Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Awards or IPVM Awards are given by Ministry of Environment and Forests[1] of Government of India to individuals and institutions who have done pioneering and exemplary work in the field of afforestation and wasteland development. A cash award of Rupees Two lakh fifty thousand is presented to individuals/institutions in seven categories. It was instituted in 1986 and were given annually. Initially, IPVM awards were given in twelve categories till 2006. But as per 2012 notification of Ministry of Environment and Forests Seven Categories are approved for IPVM Awards.
As per the Press Information Bureau of Government of India the activities deciding the awards areestablishing decentralized nurseries; tree planting on wastelands/farm land; awareness- raising, motivations and extension work; involving the rural poor/ tribal / cooperatives in Afforestation and tree planting; setting up grass-roots level institutions like the Tree Growers’ Cooperative; and social fencing of community woodlots and pasture lands.[2]