During the run-up to the Paris climate change meeting (COP-21) in 2015,each country decided the level and kind of effort it would undertake to solve the climate changeproblem.
These actions were referred to as nationally determined contributions (NDC).
What is India’sNDC?
India promised to take steps to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to adapt to living in a warmer world. NDCs include,
By 2030, there will be about 1/3rd reductions in the emissions intensity of the GDP below 2005 levels.
By 2030, there will be a total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricityfrom non-fossil fuel sources.
By 2030, it promised an additional carbon sink (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) through additional forest and tree cover.
Trees and other vegetation fix carbon as part of photosynthesis. Soil too holds organic carbon from plants and animals.
How to enhance the green cover?
Forest Survey of India (FSI) study estimated the costs involved, and the opportunities and potential actions needed for additional forest and tree cover to meet the NDC target.
Recently, there is a gradual increase in the forest and green cover.
The additional increase in carbon sinks is to be achieved by restoring impaired and open forests; afforesting wastelands, Agro-forestry, etc.,
72.3%of the increase will be by restoring forests and afforestation on wastelands, with a modest rise in total green cover.
The green cover increase will provide many other benefits like improving the water quality, storage of water in wetlands, etc.
What is the role of Natural forests?
A recent study in Nature - Provides insights into what works well with regard to green cover.
Locking up the carbon from the atmosphere in trees, ground vegetation and soils is one of the safest ways with which to remove carbon.
Allowing land to be converted into forests naturally will sequester the carbon more efficiently than the artificial conversion of a land to a plantation or to an Agroforest.
A study in Science - Estimates that it is possible to add 0.9 billion hectares of canopy cover worldwide.
This could potentially mitigate up to 2/3rdof historical GHG emissions, which would prevent or delay the worst impacts from climate change.
Why is restoration type a key?
Studies - Indicate that forest restoration has enormous potential in mitigating climate change.
The amount of carbon stored depends on the type of forest restoration carried out.
The most effective way is through natural forest regeneration with appropriate institutions to facilitate the process.
First, India needs to ensure that deforestation is curtailed to a maximum extent.
Second, the area allocated to the restoration of impaired and open forests and wastelands should be focussed on natural forests and agroforestry.
Instead of plantations, growing food forests managed by local communities would have additional co-benefits.
Protecting the established natural forests is important.
Protecting and nurturing public lands and preventing their private enclosure is also paramount.
Active forest management by local people has long history in India and needs to expand to meet climate, environment and social justice goals.
Source: The Hindu
Quick Facts
Paris Agreement (COP21)
Paris Agreement is an agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to combat climate change.
Aims of Paris Agreement are,
To keep the global temperature rise of this century well below 2oC above the pre-industrial level
To pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase further to 1.5oC
To strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change
