Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday that cooperation of the people living in forest areas, especially tribals, were crucial to implement a strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation.

Vardhan, who released the 'National REDD Strategy India', said it was one of the tools to achieve the country's commitment to the Paris Agreement. It will soon be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC), an official statement said.

REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) aims to achieve climate change mitigation by incentivising forest conservation. The strategy seeks to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and also developing a roadmap for enhancement of forest carbon stocks and achieving sustainable management of forests through REDD actions.

"Harsh Vardhan has emphasised that the cooperation and involvement of the tribals, other forest dwelling people and the society as a whole, is crucial for the implementation of the REDD strategy," the statement said.

Emphasising its role in sustainable livelihood of local communities and biodiversity conservation, the Union Minister invited experts and all others to contribute to the implementation of the strategy.

Top official at the event said the REDD strategy would help the country to fulfil its nationally-determined contributions (NDC) commitments and would contribute to the livelihood of the forest dependent population.