Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
4.2 Carbon Sequestration and Forestry
According to the State of Forests Report 2015 23 , Forest and tree cover of India has
increased by 5,081 square kilometre (21.34 percent) (3, 775 sq km and 1, 306 sq km)
between 2013 and 2015; the total forest cover as percentage of geographical area
was 24.16 percent.
The report also mentions that the total carbon stock has also increased by 103
million tonnes or an increase of 1.48 percent. The total carbon stock in the
country’s forest is around 7, 044 million tonnes. The increase in the carbon stock
shows the commitment of the country towards achieving the INDC target of
additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes of CO 2.
The green corridors along the river banks will not only build resilient ecosystems
but support combating global warming and climate change effects, while
optimizing GHG sequestration and providing for ex-situ conservation of native
species of the region
As long as forests are managed in a sustainable way, there can be a multitude
of benefits: for the climate, for people and for wildlife. Timber is renewable and
can replace other materials that require much larger fossil fuel inputs for their
production. They provide shade, alleviate flooding, and create a valuable wildlife
habitat. Non-Timber Forest produce (NTFPs) and minor forest produce, play an
important role in shaping the lives and livelihoods of the communities, especially
the tribal and the forest dependent ones.
4.3 Climate Adaptation – Agro-forestry for Environmental Security
Agriculture
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA), as defined and presented by FAO at the Hague
Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change in 2010, contributes
to the achievement of sustainable development goals. It integrates the three
dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental) by
jointly addressing food security and climate challenges. It is composed of three
main pillars: 1. sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; 2.
adapting and building resilience to climate change; 3. reducing and/or removing
greenhouse gases emissions, where possible.
380 Annexures