REDD Plus Initiatives in India

1. Dr. J V Sharma IFS REDD Plus Initiatives in India

2. What is REDD Plus? REDD Plus is a financial incentive mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, plus signifying positive elements of conservation, SFM, and enhancing carbon stock through afforestation & reforestation, with the potential of sustaining livelihood of Forest Dependent Communities (FDCs), maintenance of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation with safeguards of people living in and around forests (their rights, governance, and sustainable livelihood).

3. Uniqueness of India’s Forests • India has 1210 million human population (2011 census) [population density 382 per sq. km up from 264 in 1991 & 325 in 2011] • 464 million livestock (excluding Poultry). • 21.8% population is below poverty line and more than 273 million people have dependence on forests for their livelihood and some for subsistence needs • Forest cover is 21.05% & Tree Outside Forests is 2.76% of GA. • In spite of vast pressure - forest cover has stabilized for last decade • Total Growing Stock both in forests and TOF is 6047.158 Million M3 (4498.427 M M3 Forests & 1548.427 M M3 TOF)

5. Uniqueness of India’s Forests Conservation Oriented Forest Management Under NFP 1988 • India has strong legal regime – Indian Forest Act,1927; Forest Conservation Act,1980; Wild Life Protection Act,1972; Forest Right Act, 2006; Environment Protection act,1986; Biological Diversity Act, 2002; State Forest Acts, Regulations for trees out side forests and forest based industries and Judicial Decisions and Institutional Mechanism to implement National Forest Policy,1988 • Community Participation - Joint Forest Management on the principals of “care & share”. (More than 22 Million Ha. By more than 1.2 lakh committees) • TOF meet around 50% wood demand , 15-20 % from Natural forests and 30-35% from Import.

6. Uniqueness of India’s Forests • Forest Carbon (AGB,BGB , Soil Carbon, Dead wood and Litter) of Indian Forests was 6071 MT in 1994 and 6288 MTC in 2004 • Forests in India are primarily environmental and social resource, only secondarily as commercial resource • The Prime Objective of NFP,1988 is ecological security of Nation and other objective of NFP is subordinate to Prime objective • Local people, particularly tribals have first charge on forests for their livelihood and sustenance need

7. REDD+ Initiatives in India • “+” has been initiated by India at UNFCCC • Status Paper on REDD+ by MOEF • REDD+ Cell in MOEF • National Level Consultation on preparedness of REDD+ jointly by MOEF and TERI • National Level Consultation on International architecture on REDD+ jointly by MOEF and TERI

8. REDD+ Initiatives in India • International consultation on International on Architecture on REDD+ and its Relevance to developing Countries during COP-11 of CBD jointly by TERI and MOEF • International Consultation on South Asian Perspectives of REDD+ during DSDS, 2013 jointly by TERI,MOEF and ICIMOD • Regional Consultation on preparedness of REDD+ at Banglore jointly organized by TERI,MOEF and KFD

9. REDD+ Initiatives in India • Regional Consultation on preparedness of REDD+ at Kohima, jointly organized by TERI,MOEF and NFD • Regional Consultation on preparedness of REDD+ at Bhopal jointly organized by TERI,MOEF and MPFD • Regional Consultation on preparedness of REDD+ at Agra jointly organized by TERI,MOEF and UPFD • Village level consultation at Renukoot, Chindwara, Angul, Tehri,Sundarbans and Kohima by TERI and SFDs • State Level Consultation in Odisha by TERI and MOEF

10. REDD+ Initiatives in India • Expert Committee for preparation of reference document and Strategy for REDD+ in India by MOEF under the chairmanship of Dr. Jagdish Kishwan • REDD+ cell established by IGNFA under the chairman ship of Dr. Jagdish Kishwan • Initiatives has been taken by ICFRE and some of the state governments like Nagaland, MP and Karnataka

11. Forest-PLUS USAID| INDIA program • Objectives: “Reducing emissions from land use, including deforestation: cooperation on forests and land use, including reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhanced sequestration, through afforestation, conservation and sustainable management of forests.” • Expected Outcomes: Improved tools, methods and approaches developed and deployed for taking REDD+ actions to scale. Forest-PLUS will: • accelerate India’s transition to a low emissions economy by taking REDD+ actions to scale. • support Green India Mission and REDD+ activities. • actively engage with communities and local governments in supporting REDD+ activities.

12. Component 1 Development of tools and techniques • Task 1: Develop tools, techniques and methods for better ecosystem management and to increase carbon sequestration. • Task 2 : Develop improved methods to establish carbon inventory and reference baselines. • Task 3: Analyze social and economic incentives for promoting REDD+ policy and practice.

13. Component 2 Deployment and piloting results at scale • Task1: Establish government and stakeholder dialogue and communication processes. • Task2 : Engage stakeholders constructively in REDD+ implementation. • Task3: Human and institutional capacity development and strengthening of enabling environment.

14. Policy Brief Outcome: Documents Policy Brief ,Proceedings and Report • Policy Brief on International Architecture on REDD+ • Policy Brief on Institutional Mechanism on REDD+ in India • Proceedings of Side Event on International Architecture on REDD+ and its Relevance to developing countries during COP-11 of CBD • Report on International Architecture on REDD+ and its relevance to India

15. Discussions and consultations lead to identification of many issues: • Unresolved issues of Definition of Sustainable Management of Forests, Baseline, MRV • In India, Sustainable Management of Forests is synonymous with Sustainable Forest Management • Determination of baseline at 1990 or later • For MRV- GoI should identify a lead agency or verification of carbon • For MRV- reporting should be carried out through the state government to GoI • For MRV- Monitoring by 3rd party designated by GoI • Capacity building of Forest Departments, communities w.r.t. MRV • Proposed an institutional arrangement after consultations and discussions

16. Institutional Arrangement

17. Outcomes: Documents

18. A book on "Sustainable Forest Management and REDD+ in India“ launched during TERI’s flagship event Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2013

19. Issues Crystalized • Forest Governance: • JFMC a sub-committee of GarmaSabha • Gram Sabha –a centric Body where CFR under FRA recognized • Role of Women in decision making where pre-existing Community –Based forest Governance • Role of FD –Technical, Monitoring and enforcement of Legislations (Regulatory) • Project design: • Small Scale at JFMC /Gram Sabha level • Five Pool of carbon (AGB, BGB, Litter, dead wood and Soil Carbon) • Low Transaction Cost • Simple methodology for carbon assessment which should be validated with GIS Technology

20. Financing: • Fund-Based Mechanism initially • Exploring Voluntary Market • National Level schemes /Funding Mechanism such as GIM, CAMPA ,EAPs and Finance Commission may be used for compensating conservation efforts of community by way of carbon • Ecosystem Services: • Carbon sequestration is just like other ecosystem service and it is treated as co-benefit , other services and biodiversity conservation are key benefits

21. Capacity Building: • Capacity building of forest department officials and community • Capacity building of other departments related to rural development • Generating awareness among officials of other line departments. • Livelihood: • Livelihood Based on sustainable harvest • Un-sustainable harvest must be substituted with alternate means of employment and opportunities

22. Safeguards to be adopted • Recognition of Forest Principles • Decentralized Forest Governance • Protection of Rights of Forest dependent Communities • Sustainable Livelihood and Poverty Reduction

23. Safeguards to be adopted contd. • Avoid adverse impact on non-forest ecosystems • Protection of Natural Forests from degradation • Low carbon and climate resilient sustainable development • Maintenance of Ecosystem services and Biodiversity Conservation

24. Undertaking a comprehensive assessment for designing a REDD Plus project at the field level • Five pilot projects in Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal for designing REDD+ Project was conducted • Village Level Consultations conducted at Garhdarwa village, Sonbhadra District of UP State, Jereng Village in Angul District of Odisha, Jharkhali and Bakkhali villages in Sundarbans, 24 Parganas District of West Bengal, Suva Kholi village in Tehri District of Uttrakhand and Delakhari village in Chindwara District of MP State. • Socio-economic survey completed in all the pilot sites • Carbon assessment has been completed in UP, MP, Uttrakhand and Odisha States, while it is under process in West Bengal, Considering five pools of carbon • Analysis of Socio-economic survey in UK, MP, UP and Odisha has been completed • Analysis of biomass data through GIS – Remote sensing technology is completed except Sundarban site

25. REDD Plus Pilot Sites source(FSI)

26. Outcome of socio-economic survey Assessment of actual harvest of forest produce (fuelwood, fodder and minor forest produce) Quantification of sustainable harvest Assessment of unsustainable harvest and leakages Unsustainable harvest is largely due to unemployment/ lack of livelihoods/ severe poverty Identification of options for the substitution of dependence on forest through alternative livelihood from sectors other than forest with the activities such as poultry, tasar cultivation, lac and MNREGA

27. Outcome of Biomass assessment Establishment of simple methodology for biomass assessment 5 pools of carbon(AGB, BGB, Soil Carbon, Dead Wood, Leaf Litter) In mangrove forests, we are thinking to add 6th pool of carbon i.e. Phytoplanktons Biomass asessment has been completed in four sites except Sundarbans Biomass in comparison to 1990 has been enhanced with the conservation efforts of the community in Renukoot, Angul, Chiandwaraand Reduce in case of Mussoorie Project should be small scale i.e. JFMC/Village level Baseline for carbon estimation should be 1990

28. Outcome of Biomass assessment Establishment of simple methodology for biomass assessment 5 pools of carbon(AGB, BGB, Soil Carbon, Dead Wood, Leaf Litter) In mangrove forests, we are thinking to add 6th pool of carbon i.e. Phytoplanktons Biomass asessment has been completed in four sites except Sundarbans Biomass in comparison to 1990 has been enhanced with the conservation efforts of the community in Renukoot, Angul, Chiandwaraand Reduce in case of Mussoorie Project should be small scale i.e. JFMC/Village level Baseline for carbon estimation should be 1990

29. Biomass estimation (1990 and 2012) Change (t/ha)

30. Case Study: Renukoot Pilot Site (Uttar Pradesh) Harvest - Sustainable/Unsustainable • Fodder • Total Harvest: 320T/y • Sustainable Limit: 117T/y • Unsustainable harvest: 203T/y • Fuel wood • Total harvest: 146T/y • Sustainable Limit: 77T/y • Unsustainable harvest: 69T/y Unsustainable harvest is being substituted by Natural/Non-Natural/Forest Resource Based Livelihood

31. Alternative Employment opportunities through REDD Plus for site in Renukoot Forest Division • Enhancing & strengthening the forestry based livelihood practices such as tasar and lac culture • Lac culture practice saves the beutea trees- a representative of degraded forests • Raising tasar plantations on land vulnerable to encroachment has saved the land • Poultry Farming • MANREGA • With the help of SHGs

32. National/State Level Consultations

33. Community Level consultations

34. Community Level consultations

35. Efforts to reduce dependence on forests and Mitigation to climate change • Natural resource Based Livelihood • Rural Development Schemes such as MANREGA • JICA Projects for improving livelihood of FDCs along with SFM in UP,WB, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamilnadu • Green India Mission

36. Green India Mission One of the Eight Missions under National Program on Climate Change • GOALS: Responding to climate change - combination of A&M measures • Enhancing carbon in sustainably managed forests and other ecosystems • Adaptation of vulnerable species /ecosystems to the changing climate • Adaptation of forest dependent communities • OBJECTIVES: • Increase FTC on 5 M ha. plus Improve quality of forests on 5 M ha. • Improve ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological and carbon sequestration from 10 M ha. of above forests. • Increase forest based livelihood of 3 million FDCs • Enhance annual CO2 sequestration of 50-60 MT by 2020

37. Green India Mission • Core principles • First charge on forests/ecosystem good and services of local communities • Empowerment of communities & decentralized forest governance • TEK of communities along with forestry science and state off the art technologies • Restoration of eco-systems and habitat diversity – incl. degraded forests, grasslands, mangroves, wetlands • Participatory planning and execution of interventions – integrated action at village-cluster of villages in in around forests/watersheds in selected landscapes • .

38. Thank You