Tag: GS 3 || Environment || Governance: International|| Conventions & Protocols

Why In News?

The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme being carried out in the Himalayan states jointly by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been extended till July 2020.

About the Programme

The Himalaya programme was launched in January 2016 in Mizoram to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in India’s Himalayan states.

to address the drivers of deforestation and The initiative was meant to last only till 2018 is extended till July 2020 keeping in view of the contributions made by the agencies.

keeping in view of the contributions The project is supported by the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety ministry of Germany, was implemented in four countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region— Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal.

REDD+

REDD+ is a mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

It creates a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development.

by offering incentives for developing countries to to sustainable development. Developing countries would receive results-based payments for results-based actions.

REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks .

. It aims to create incentives for communities so that they stop forest degrading practices.

More than 300 REDD+ initiatives have taken place since 2006.

The mechanism is enshrined in the 2015 Paris Agreement and its implementation transitions from smaller, isolated projects to larger, jurisdictional programmes with support from bilateral and multilateral agencies.

What is the difference between REDD and REDD+?

REDD = “reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries ”

” REDD+ (or REDD-plus) = to “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries”

to “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries” REDD+ is essentially a vehicle to financially reward developing countries for their verified efforts to reduce emissions and enhance removals of greenhouse gases through a variety of forest management option

for their verified efforts to reduce emissions and enhance removals of greenhouse gases through a variety of forest management option India favours REDD+

Compensatory Afforestation Fund

The Union Environment Ministry has transferred ₹47,436 crore to 27 States for afforestation. The funds are long-pending dues, part of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), that has been collected for nearly a decade as environmental compensation from industry.

for afforestation. The funds are long-pending dues, that has been collected for nearly a decade as environmental compensation from industry. The funds transferred are in addition to State Budget. The centre expects that states will utilize the funds towards forestry activities to achieve the objectives of the Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDCs) of increasing forest & tree cover.

The centre expects that states will utilize the funds towards forestry activities to achieve the objectives of The CAF Act was passed by the centre in 2016 and the related rules were notified in 2018.

The CAF Act was enacted to manage the funds collected for compensatory afforestation which till then was managed by ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

The funds can be used for treatment of catchment areas, assisted natural generation, forest management, wildlife protection and management, relocation of villages from protected areas, managing human-wildlife conflicts, training and awareness generation, supply of wood saving devices and allied activities.

Mains Question

What is status of afforestation in India?

Additional Info

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1583452