An important event on afforestation and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in India was organised by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun on November 9, during the ongoing 23rd Conference of Parties (COP23) under the aegis of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.
“Forests play a crucial role in mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Forestry sector in India is making positive contribution for climate change mitigation in India,” said the ICFRE director general Suresh Gairola while chairing the event at India Pavilion.
Gairola highlighted various forestry programmes, actions enabling policies, laws and legislations that are contributing to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change in forestry sector in India.
“Pursuant to the Paris Agreement, India in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC has communicated to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. The land use, land-use change and forestry sector in India is a net carbon sink which offsets about 12 per cent of the total GHG emission,” he said.
The Forest Research Institute, Dehradun director Savita presented a case of forestry intervention for rejuvenation of the Ganga river under the Government of India’s flagship Namami Gange programme and underscored how this programme could contribute to climate change mitigation as additional co-benefit.
The principal chief conservator of forests from Meghalaya, Subhash Ashutosh spoke on conservation and sustainable management of forests and sacred groves under community and private ownership of the tribal people in Meghalaya. He highlighted the climate change Adaptation and mitigation benefits of these community actions.
From the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal, Bhaskar Singh Karky and Sabine Preuss from German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) India also made presentations during the event.
The 23rd Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (CoP23) or Bonn Climate Change Conference opened in Bonn (Germany) on November 6 and will continue until November 17, under the presidency of Fiji. The conference is expected to advance work on issues related to operationalising the Paris Agreement due for completion by 2018. COP 23 is expected to continue its consideration of issues related to the preparations for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
ICFRE assistant director general VRS Rawat acted as the nodal officer for the event. The event was well received by the delegates and strengthened leadership role of India in REDD+, claimed the officials.