India's forests could nearly double their carbon storage capacity by 2100 | Current Affairs | Vision IAS

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In Summary

  • Study predicts India's vegetation carbon biomass to increase 35%-97% by 2100, driven by CO2 and rainfall, with major growth in arid/semi-arid regions.
  • India aims to create 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent carbon sink by 2035, with forest carbon stock rising to 7.29 billion tonnes in 2023.
  • Key initiatives include Green India Mission, National Afforestation Programme, CAMPA, TOFI, Bonn Challenge, and Green Credit Programme to enhance carbon storage.

In Summary

Key Highlights of the study

  • Predicted Increase in Vegetation carbon biomass: 35% (low-emissions) to 97% (high-emissions) by 2100. 
  • Major drivers: Elevated atmospheric CO2 (aids photosynthesis) and rainfall variability
  • Major Growth: >60% is projected in arid and semi-arid margins (Rajasthan, Gujarat). 

India’s Targets and trends

  • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): As per updated targets for 2031-35, India aims to create carbon sink through forest and tree cover to 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035 from 2005 level.
  • Trends: As per India State of Forest Report 2023-
    • Total forest carbon stock: Rose from 6.94 billion tonnes in 2013 to 7.29 billion tonnes in 2023.
    • Total forest and tree cover: Increased to 25.17% of India’s geographical area (24.62% in 2021 assessment)

Key initiatives for increasing India’s carbon storage 

  • Green India Mission (GIM): Aims to expand Forest/tree cover by 5 million hectares (mha) and improve the quality of another 5 mha of forest and non-forest land.
  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Centrally sponsored scheme for ecological restoration of degraded forests and to develop the forest resources with peoples’ participation.
  •  Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA): Aims to compensate forest land due to diversion of forests for non-forest use.
  • Others: Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) program; Bonn Challenge commitment (restore 26 million hectares of degraded land); Sub-Mission for Agroforestry (SMAF), Green Credit Programme (GCP), Nagar Van Yojana, etc.
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Green Credit Programme (GCP)

A market-based mechanism in India that incentivizes environmentally conscious behavior by allowing individuals and entities to earn 'Green Credits' for undertaking green actions, which can then be traded.

Bonn Challenge

A global effort to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested land into restoration by 2020 and 450 million hectares by 2030. India has committed to restoring degraded lands under this initiative.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA)

An authority established to manage funds collected for compensatory afforestation, which is the process of growing trees on non-forest land to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.

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