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♤ REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is the global endeavour to create an incentive for developing countries to protect, better manage and save their forest resources, thus contributing to the global fight against climate change
♤ REDD+ goes beyond merely checking deforestation and forest degradation, and includes incentives for positive elements of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
♤ REDD+ conceptualizes flow of positive incentives for demonstrated reduction in deforestation or for enhancing quality and expanse of forest cover.
♤ It works on the basis of creating a financial value for the carbon stored and enhanced in biomass and soil of standing forests. Countries that reduce emissions and undertake sustainable management of forests will be entitled to receive funds and resources as incentives.
♤ REDD+ approach incorporates important benefits of livelihoods improvement, biodiversity conservation and food security services.
Will India Benefit from REDD+?
India’s sustained efforts for conserving and expanding its forest and tree resources have the possibility of being rewarded for providing carbon service to the international community in addition to providing traditional goods and services to the local communities.
♤ The incentives so received from REDD+ would be passed to the local communities involved in protection and management of the forests. This will ensure sustained protection of our forests against deforestation.
♤ It is estimated that a REDD+ programme for India could provide capture of more than 1 billion tonnes of additional CO2 over the next 3 decades and provide more than USD 3 billion as carbon service incentives under REDD+.
India’s Position on Redd And Redd+
♤ India believes REDD needs to be seen in the broader context of REDD+, not in isolation or in a truncated form since reduction of deforestation, and conservation and improvement of forests are two sides of the same coin, and so should be treated at par.
♤ India’s stand was finally accepted in 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) at Bali when elements of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks were added to the then existing text of reducing deforestation and forest degradation as part of Bali Action Plan.
♤ It has presented an ambitious Green India Mission programme under its National Action Plan on Climate Change.
India initiatives related to REDD+
♤ India has made a submission to UNFCCC on “REDD, Sustainable Management of Forest(SMF) and Afforestation and Reforestation (A&R)” in December 2008
♤ A Technical Group has been set up to develop methodologies and procedures to assess and
♤ monitor contribution of REDD+ actions
♤ A National REDD+ Coordinating Agency is being established
♤ A National Forest Carbon Accounting Programme is being institutionalized
♤ India is hosting the Conference of Parties (COP-11) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2012, to coincide with twenty years of Rio convention.
♤ Study on the impact of climate change on India’s forests assigned to the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), has been released in November 2010.
♤ There is likely to be an increase in Net Primary Productivity (NPP) ranging from 20 - 57 %.
India looks for Enhanced Implementation of the Unfccc
India looks forward to enhanced international cooperation under the UNFCCC. Overall, future international cooperation on climate change should address the following objectives:
♤ Minimizing the negative impacts of climate change through suitable adaptation measures in the countries and communities affected and mitigation at the global level
♤ Provide fairness and equity in the actions and measures
♤ Uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in actions to be taken, such as concessional financial flows from the developed countries, and access to technology on affordable terms
♤ India as a large democracy, with the major challenge of achieving economic and social development and eradicating poverty, will engage in negotiations and other actions at the international level in the coming months that would lead to efficient and equitable solutions at the global level.