National REDD+ Strategy

1. Dr. Suresh Gairola, Director General, ICFRE

2. Dr. Jagdish Kishwan, Former ADGF (WL), MoEFCC

3. Dr. Promode Kant, Director, Institute of Green Economy, New Delhi

4. Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, PCCF, Meghalaya

5. Dr. Mohit Gera, Director, IFGTB Coimbatore

6. Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Dy. Director General, FSI

7. Mr. Noyal Thomas, DIGF (FP), MoEFCC

8. Mr. V.R.S. Rawat, ADG (Biodiversity and Climate Change) ICFRE Document approved by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, vide letter F.No. 18-16/2013-FP (Vol.2) dated 7th June, 2018 Citation: MoEFCC (2018). National REDD+ Strategy India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. MkW- g"kZ o/kZu Hkkjr ljdkj Dr. Harsh Vardhan i;kZoj.k] ou ,oa tyok;q ifjorZu ea=h GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Minister OF Environment, Forest & Climate Change lR;eso t;rs Message Climate change affects us all. In the developing countries climate change will be added to existing challenges, with far fewer resources to cope with the problems. Scientific findings indicate that risks associated with changes in climate are real, and the impacts are being witnessed in many systems and sectors essential for our well being. Along with global community, India is equally concerned about the impacts of climate change. The integration of climate change into the national development planning process in India is guided by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change. India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) reflects the importance India attaches to mobilizing its national energies in meeting the challenge of climate change. Globally forests are considered to have great potential for mitigation of climate change. UNFCCC programme on ‘Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks’ in developing countries (collectively known as REDD+) aims to achieve climate change mitigation by incentivising forest conservation in developing countries. As well-being of forests is considered essential for healthy environment, sustainable livelihoods of local communities, and also for conservation of biodiversity and meeting the raw material needs of the forest-based industry, REDD+ attracts highest attention in developing country like India where local communities, forest dwelling tribal communities have high dependency on forests for their livelihoods. In accordance with UNFCCC decisions on REDD+, India has prepared its National REDD+ Strategy. The Strategy builds upon existing national circumstances which have been updated in line with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, Green India Mission and India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC. I have great pleasure in presenting this National Strategy for REDD+. I thank Expert Committee members and invited experts for their contribution for preparing this National REDD+ Strategy. I also acknowledge the efforts put up by the Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for coordinating the preparation of this document. I am hopeful that the National REDD+ Strategy of India will be a guiding document for effective implementation of REDD+ activities in India. Date: 01.05.2018  (Dr. Harsh Vardhan) Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110 003, Tel. : 011-24695136, 24695132, Fax : 011-24695329 laLd`fr jkT; ea=h (Lora= izHkkj) i;kZoj.k] ou ,oa tyok;q ifjorZu jkT; ea=h Hkkjr ljdkj MkW- egs'k 'kekZ Minister of State (i/C) of culture Dr. Mahesh Sharma Minister of State for lR;eso t;rs Environment, Forest and Climate Change government of india Message In the recent years, climate change is one of the few global issues that have received tremendous attention of common man, scientists and policy planners. Global climate change is a threat having perceptible and tangible impacts upon human kind and nature. India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Government of India attaches great importance to climate change issues. The forestry sector occupies a unique position in so far as climate change is concerned. It contributes significantly to global carbon dioxide emissions, and at the same time also provides significant climate change mitigation and adaptation opportunities. Further, forestry sector is closely linked to socio-economic systems, particularly those of the forest dwellers, forest dependent people, and rural communities in the developing countries. The progressive conservation-oriented forest policies and afforestation programmes in India is contributing to reduction in carbon emissions, stabilization and improvement of carbon stocks in forests. Today, Indian forestry sector is making positive contribution in checking global climate change and in promoting sustainable development. India has a strong policy framework that it has enforced for conservation of its natural forest. Forest conservation in India has been achieved, and is being sustained at huge costs on account of revenue loss from harvests, and judicious diversion of forests for developmental purpose. Under UNFCCC, the global programme on reducing emissions from deforestation, forest degradation and role of conservation of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests, aims at addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. In order to take part in this global programme of REDD+, developing countries are required to put in place their National REDD+ Strategy or Action Plans. India joining hands with global community has prepared its National REDD+ Strategy. I congratulate and wish the Director General, ICFRE and his team for drafting the National REDD+ Strategy for the country. I am sure the Strategy will serve as a guiding document for speedy implementation of REDD+ in India. (Dr. Mahesh Sharma) iape ry] vkdk'k foax] bafnjk i;kZoj.k Hkou] tksj ckx jksM+] ubZ fnYyh&110 003] Qksu % 011&24621921] 24621922 QSDl % 011&24695313 dSEi dk;kZy; % ,p&33] lSDVj&27] uks,Mk&201301 (m-iz-) nwjHkk"k % 0120&2444444] 2466666 QSDl % 0120&2544488 5th Floor, Aakash Wing, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110 003, Ph.: 011- 24621921, 24621922 Fax: 011- 24695313 Camp Office : H-33, Sector-27, Noida-201301 (U.P.) Tel. : 0120-2444444, 2466666, Fax : 0120-2544488 E-mail : dr.mahesh@sansad.nic.in, drmahesh3333@gmail.com lfpo Hkkjr ljdkj i;kZoj.k] ou ,oa tyok;q ifjorZu ea=ky; secretary lR;eso t;rs government of india ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change lh-ds-feJk C.K. Mishra Message Climate change is a major challenge for developing countries like India that face large scale climate variability and are exposed to enhanced risks from climate change. The challenge of climate change calls for extraordinary vision, leadership, compassion and wisdom. The cumulative accumulation of greenhouse gases historically since industrial revolution has resulted in the current problem of global warming. India, even though not a part of the problem, has been an active and constructive participant in the search for solutions. Keeping in view its development agenda, particularly the eradication of poverty coupled with its commitment to following the low carbon path to progress and being optimistic about the availability of clean technologies and financial resource from around the world, India communicated its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC. Besides, reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level, India also communicated creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. National initiatives like Green India Mission, National Agro-forestry Policy, REDD+ programmes, Joint Forest Management, National Afforestation Programme and devolution of about USD 6 billion under Compensatory Afforestation to states will be the important instruments to achieve this task. In accordance with the requirements of UNFCCC, to be eligible to get result based financial incentives for REDD+, Government of India has prepared its National REDD+ Strategy. The Strategy recognises the role of local and tribal communities in getting fair share of REDD+ benefits. The National REDD+ Strategy of India outlines the facilitative and enabling environment for implementing REDD+, the strategy to be adopted and an implementation framework complying the various REDD+ agreements under the UNFCCC. I compliment the team of experts from the Ministry, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, and other organisations for bringing out the National REDD+ Strategy. (C.K. Mishra) bafnjk i;kZoj.k Hkou] tksj ckx jksM+] ubZ fnYyh&110 003] Qksu % (011) 24695262] 24695265 QSDl % (011) 24695270 INDIRA PARYAVARAN BHAWAN, JOR BAGH ROAD, NEW DELHI-110 003 Ph.: (011) 24695262, 24695265 Fax: (011) 24695270, E-mail : secy-moef@nic.in, Website : moef.gov.in fLkºkUr nkl ou egkfuns'kd ,oa fo'ks"k lfpo Hkkjr ljdkj SIDDHANTA DAS i;kZoj.k] ou ,oa tyok;q ifjorZu ea=ky; director general of forest & spl. secy. government of india lR;eso t;rs ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change Message Forests play an important role in global climate change regulation. Forests are both source and sink of carbon. Their role in maintaining ecological balance, environmental stability and sustainable economic development is well known. With increased concern for climate change in recent decades, the emphasis on reducing the GHG emission from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks have been at the center of discussions under REDD+ agenda of UNFCCC. India has played an important role in REDD+ negotiations from Bali Action Plan where for the first time concept of Conservation was added to the agenda of REDD till the inclusion of REDD+ in Paris Agreement. India is one of the few countries where forest and tree cover have increased in recent years transforming country’s forests into a net sink owing to national policies aimed at conservation and sustainable management of forests. As per the latest assessment, forests and tree cover has increased by 8021 sq.km as compared to previous assessment in 2015, and now is 24.39% of the geographical area of the country. Government of India’s long term goal is to bring 33% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover eventually. India is bracing up for implementing REDD+ at national level in order to attract result based finance for REDD+ activities. India has already submitted its National Forest Reference Level for REDD+ to UNFCCC in January 2018 and now second in this series is the National REDD+ Strategy. I hope the National REDD+ Strategy when implemented in full will be a step forward in achieving India’s target of capturing additional 2.5 to 3 billion tones of CO2 through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. The National REDD+ Strategy has been prepared by a team of forestry experts from MoEFCC, ICFRE and other organizations of the country. I congratulate the team of experts led by Dr. Suresh Chandra Gairola, Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) for preparing the National REDD+ Strategy. Date: 17.05.2018 (SIDDHANTA DAS) bafnjk i;kZoj.k Hkou] tksj ckx jksM+] ubZ fnYyh&110 003] Qksu % 24695278] QSDl % (011) 24695412 INDIRA PARYAVARAN BHAWAN, JOR BAGH ROAD, NEW DELHI-110 003, Ph. : 24695278, Fax: (011) 24695412 E-mail : dgfindia@nic.in lR;eso t;rs egkfuns'kd Hkkjrh; okfudh vuqla/kku ,oa f'k{kk ifj"kn~ MkW- lqjs'k xSjksyk] Hkk-o-ls- Mkd?kj U;w QkWjsLV] nsgjknwu&248006 Dr. Suresh Gairola, IFS (vkbZ-,l-vks- 9001%2008 izekf.kr laLFkk) Director General Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education P. O. New Forest, Dehradun – 248006 (An Iso 9001:2008 Certified Organisation) Preface India has always been in the forefront of REDD+ negotiations at the UNFCCC. Cancun Agreements, Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and Paris Agreement have created an enabling environment for implementing REDD+ by the developing countries. India is fully committed to implement REDD+ activities, and, therefore, also to develop a National REDD+ Strategy to be implemented in accordance with the UNFCCC agreements. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India initiated the preparation of National REDD+ Strategy in the year 2013. A drafting committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Jagdish Kishwan former ADG (WL), MoEFCC. Other members included were Prof. Ravindra Nath, IISc., Dr. Rekha Pai, IG Forests, MoEFCC, Mr. Subhash Chandra, DIG Forests, MoEFCC, Rajesh Kumar, JD, FSI, Mr. V.R.S. Rawat, Scientist, ICFRE, Dr. Indu Murthy, IISc. Mr. Arun Bansal, former ADG (FC) and Mr. Harish C. Chaudhary, Director, MoEFCC. The drafting committee had a number of meetings to deliberate upon the contours of the strategy. Later on in September 2017, ICFRE was mandated by the Ministry to look into the technical aspects of REDD+ activities. ICFRE constituted an Expert Committee under the chairmanship of DG, ICFRE to provide the requisite inputs to the Ministry. The committee had a series of meetings and stakeholders consultations for preparation of this document. I am thankful to the members of Expert Committee for providing vital inputs in preparation of this document and completing the task in a short period. I am thankful to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India for expressing its faith in ICFRE for drafting the National REDD+ Strategy. ICFRE acknowledges the financial support from ICIMOD-GIZ funded collaborative project ‘REDD+ Himalaya’ for supporting workshops and stakeholders consultation on developing National REDD+ Strategy for India. The National REDD+ Strategy indicates Government of India’s commitment to implement REDD+ by optimally exploring the mitigation potential of forestry sector in the country. It also recognizes the active participation of local communities and Indigenous people. The Strategy will also contribute towards green skill development and job creation in forestry sector. National REDD+ Strategy is sincere contribution towards India’s preparedness for early and effective implementation of REDD+. I am hopeful that the National REDD+ Strategy for India will serve as a guiding document for effective implementation of REDD+ activities in India and mobilize result based financial incentives. Date: 30.03.2018 (Dr. Suresh Gairola) i;kZoj.k] ou ,oa tyok;q ifjorZu ea=ky;] Hkkjr ljdkj dh ,d Lok;r ifj"kn~ An Autonomous Body of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India nwjHkk"k/ Phone : 135 - 2759382 (O) bZ&esy/ e-mail : dg@icfre.org EPABX : 0135 - 2224855, 2224333 (O) QSDl/ Fax : 0091-135-2755353 Contents

1. Introduction and the Context 1

2. Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India 9

3. The Strategy 15

4. Implementation Framework 29 References 39 Annex I : Process involved in developing the National REDD+ Strategy 40 Annex II: Coverage of different land categories suitable or eligible for REDD+ components, mode of carbon benefits and its feasibility and potential 41 Annex III: Composition of National Designated Entity for REDD+ (NDE-REDD+) Central Government Level 42 Abbreviation used APCCF Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A&R Afforestation and Reforestation BCC Biodiversity and Climate Change BEE Bureau of Energy Efficiency CASFOS Central Academy for State Forest Service CCF Chief Conservator of Forests CF Conservator of Forests CO2 Carbon Dioxide CO2eq Carbon Dioxide Equivalent CFM Community Forest Management CAMPA Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority COP Conference of Parties DG Director General EDCs Eco-development Committees EFCS Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks FC Forest Conservation FTC Forest and Tree Cover FREL Forest Reference Emission Level FRL Forest Reference Level FRM Forest Reproductive Material FSI Forest Survey of India GCF Green Climate Fund GEF Global Environment Facility GHG Greenhouse Gas GIM Green India Mission GoI Government of India GIS Geographical Information System GS Growing Stocks HoFF Head of Forest Force ICFRE Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education IIFM Indian Institute of Forest Management IGNFA Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy IPs Indigenous Peoples JFM Joint Forest Management JFMCs Joint Forest Management Committees Kg Kilogram Km Kilometre LCs Local Communities LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas LULUCF Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry MDF Moderately Dense Forest Mha Million Hectare MMU Minimum Mappable Unit MoEFCC Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change MRV Measurement, Reporting and Verification MSS Multispectral Scanner System mt Million Tonnes NAEB National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board NAP National Afforestation Programme NATCOM National Communication NAPCC National Action Plan on Climate Change NDC Nationally Determined Contribution NDE-NGC National Designated Entity- National Governing Council NFI National Forest Inventory NFMS National Forest Measurement System NFP National Forest Policy NGOs Non Governmental Organisation NGRBA National Ganga River Basin Authority NHAI National Highway Authority of India NRPS National REDD+ Strategy NTFP Non-timber Forest Products OF Open Forest PAs Protected Areas PCCF Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PAT Performance Achieve and Trade PESA Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 REDD+ Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks SFDs State Forest Departments SIS Safeguard Information System SMF Sustainable Management of Forests TOF Tree Outside Forests TOPS-FTC Trading of Performance by States in Forest and Tree Cover UN United Nations UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UT Union Territory VDF Very Dense Forest 1 Introduction and the Context 1.1 General India is a vast country with a rich biological The basic approach is development without diversity. Forest is the second-largest land use destruction. This can be easily accessed in India after agriculture. Roughly, 275 million from the fact that the Constitution of the rural people in India depend on forests for at country, fountainhead of all national laws, least part of their subsistence and livelihood provides space for dealing with matters (World Bank, 2006). As per the India State of related to environment and forest. Article 48 Forest Report (FSI, 2017), the forest cover of A of the Constitution under Part IV- Directive the country stood at 708,273 km2, while it Principles of State Policy prescribes for was 701,495 km2 in 2015 updated assessment protection and improvement of environment (FSI, 2017), recording an increase of 6778 km2 and safeguarding of forests and wildlife. The within two years. The National Forest Policy subjects of ‘prevention of cruelty to animals’, of India envisages 33% of its geographical ‘forests’, and ‘protection of wild animals and area under forest and tree cover. Figure 1.1 birds’ respectively at S. No. 17, 17A & B, in provides India’s forest cover over successive the Concurrent List of Schedule VII of the assessments. The total forest and tree cover of Constitution, thereby empowering both the the country is 24.4% of its geographical area. Central Government and State Government to legislate on the subject in the interest The issues related to forest and environment of citizens of the country with overarching management have been given adequate objective of protecting country’s environment importance in the overall policy and planning and ecology. for balanced development of the country. 22.0 21.5 % Geographical Area 21.0 20.5 20.0 19.5 19.0 18.5 18.0 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Year (Source: FSI, 1987 to FSI, 2017) Figure 1.1: India’s forest cover estimates from 1987 to 2017 Introduction and the Context Carbon mitigation services of India’s forests: land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector With its focus on sustainable management of was source of CO2 in the year 1994 accounting forests, afforestation and regulating diversion for 1.16% of CO2eq emissions when India of forest lands for non-forest purposes, India submitted its first National Communication has been successful in improving carbon stock (NATCOM) to UNFCCC in 2000 (MoEF, 2004). in its forests by as much as 10% amounting In its second National Communication, LULUCF to 592 million tons of carbon for the decade sector was a net sink of 17 % of total national ending in 2004. Carbon stocks in India’s forests emissions (MoEF, 2012). India’s first biennial were estimated to be 6071 million tonnes in update report to UNFCCC has reported that the year 1994 and 6663 million tonnes in 2004. the LULUCF sector was a net carbon sink In 2015, (FSI, 2017 assessment) estimated offsetting 252.5 million tonnes of CO2eq which carbon stock in forest was 7,082 million tonnes is 12% of India’s total GHG emission (MoEFCC, (FSI, 2017) while in 2013 it was 7044 million 2015). Thus, forestry sector in India is making tonnes (FSI, 2015) which is a net increase of 38 positive contribution for climate change million tonnes in country’s carbon stock within mitigation. Table 1.1 gives Land use land use two years. Various national programmes and change and forestry (LULUCF) contribution to policies have converted India’s forest from India GHG emission profile. net source to net sink of CO2. The land use, Table-1.1. LULUCF contribution to India GHG emission profile GHG Emission (Gg CO2eq) Year 1994 2004 2010 Sector Emission Share (%) Emission Share (%) Emission Share (%) Energy 743820 62 1027016 67 1510121 71% Industrial Process & Product use 102710 7 88608 6 171503 8 Agriculture 344485 29 355600 23 390165 18 LULUCF 14292 1.16 -222567 -17 -252532 -12 Waste 23233 2 52552 4 65052 3 Total (Without LULUCF) 1214248 1523777 2136841 Total (Net Emission) 1228540 1301209 1884309 (Source: MoEF, 2004, 2012 and MoEFCC, 2015) 1.2 Concept of REDD+ Globally anthropogenic emissions from land address the emission from deforestation use, land use change and forestry contributes and forest degradation in 2005. With India’s 9-11% of GHG emissions owing to large intervention for inclusion of policy approach scale deforestation and forest degradation in of conservation and sustainable management developing countries (IPCC, 2014). The agenda of forests, the concept of “forest conservation, of “Reducing emissions from deforestation sustainable management of forests and and forest degradation in developing countries enhancement of forest carbon stocks in (REDD)” was first introduced in UNFCCC developing countries” was added and the as a climate change mitigation option to concept is now collectively referred as ‘REDD+’. 2 Introduction and the Context 1.3 Scope of REDD+ REDD+ decision in Cancun (COP16), and technological support to developing Governments agree to boost action to country Parties, in accordance with national curb emissions from deforestation and circumstances and respective capabilities, to forest degradation in developing countries develop the following elements (Figure 1.2): with technological and financial support. (a) A national strategy or action plan, Developing country Parties, in accordance with their respective capabilities and national (b) A national forest reference emission circumstances are encouraged to contribute level and/or forest reference level or, if to mitigation actions in the forest sector appropriate, as an interim measure, sub- by undertaking the following activities, as national forest reference emission levels deemed appropriate by each Party: and/or forest reference levels (FREL/FRL), (c) A robust and transparent national forest I. Reducing emissions from deforestation; monitoring system for the monitoring II. Reducing emissions from forest and reporting of the REDD+ activities, degradation; if appropriate, sub-national monitoring III. Conservation of forest carbon stocks; and reporting as an interim measure, in IV. Sustainable management of forest; and accordance with national circumstances V. Enhancement of forest carbon stocks and (d) A system for providing information Prerequisites for REDD+: The COP decision on how the safeguards are being (Decision 1.CP/16) requests developing addressed and respected throughout the country parties aiming to undertake REDD+ implementation of the REDD+ activities, activities, in the context of the provision while respecting sovereignty. of adequate and predictable support, including financial resources and technical 1.4. Broad elements of National REDD+ Strategy In accordance with the COP decision the Key Elements of REDD+ and UNFCCC Decisions (Cancun Agreements Para 71) national REDD+ strategy or action plans, should address, inter alia, the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, land National National Forest tenure issues, forest governance issues, Strategy or Monitoring gender considerations and the safeguards Action Plan System (MRV) identified, ensuring the full and effective participation of relevant stakeholders, Forest Safeguards Reference inter alia indigenous peoples and local Information level/Forest System Reference communities. emission Level Figure 1.2: Key elements of REDD+ to be developed by developing country Parties 3 Introduction and the Context 1.5 National Forest Reference Level COP decision on REDD+ encourages India’s proposed Forest Reference Level as developing countries to develop a “National submitted to UNFCCC Forest Reference Emission Level (REL) and/ Historical average for the year 2000-2008 is: or National Forest Reference Level (RL) or, -49.70 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent if appropriate, as an interim measure, sub- national REL and/or RL, in accordance with the decision necessitates the development of national circumstances”. REL and or RL serve a National Forest Reference Level (RL). The as benchmark for assessing performance of developing countries are required to submit on implementation of REDD+ in a country. voluntary basis the proposed forest reference levels to the UNFCCC Secretariat. Government For India, in accordance with its strategy of India has submitted the National Forest of increasing the forest and tree cover, this Reference Level to UNFCCC in January 2018. 1.6 National Forest Monitoring System National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) is scale of 1:50,000 with mode of interpretation synergy of processes that support strategic completely shifted from visual to digital. decision making by systematic and repeated LISS-III data having spatial resolution of 23.5 measurement and observation of forest meter has been used since then. As a result resources, efficacy of their management, uses of this advancement, the Minimum mappable and users; and most importantly to deliver unit (MMU) has been further reduced to one periodically valid, representative and relevant hectare from 25 ha. Thus, during last 30 years, information on comprehensive status and there has been a significant advancement in trends of the resource for the country with the remote sensing technology and India has reasonable scale of accuracy. kept pace with it as far as forest resources assessment is concerned, and is fully capable India started forest cover assessment in 1987 of computing quantum of forest carbon stocks. using LANDSAT-MSS satellite data with a spatial resolution of 80 meter. Since 1995, FSI started In 2016, the National Forest Inventory (NFI) using indigenous remote sensing satellite was reoriented keeping its focus to generate data and mode of interpretation was partly information which are used in i) Forest policy shifted from visual to digital. Since 2001, there making at national and international levels; were major technological and methodological ii) National and State forest management advancements in the techniques of forest planning; iii) Planning of forest investments; iv) cover mapping in terms of satellite data, scale Assessing sustainability of forests v) Evaluation of mapping and interpretation. Since then, the of greenhouse gas emissions and changes in forest cover mapping has been carried out at a carbon storage; and vi) Research, etc. 1.7 REDD+ Safeguards The REDD+ mechanism agreed in Cancun are consistent with the objectives of national Agreements (1/CP.16), also includes a number forest programmes and relevant international of principles concerning safeguards. These conventions and agreements; (b) Transparent principles are: (a) That actions complement or and effective national forest governance 4 Introduction and the Context structures, taking into account national social and environmental benefits; (f) Actions legislation and sovereignty; (c) Respect for the to address the risks of reversals; and (g) knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples Actions to reduce displacement of emissions. and members of local communities, by taking COP Decision 12/CP.17 on Guidance on into account relevant international obligations, systems for providing information on how national circumstances and laws, and noting safeguards are addressed and respected, COP, that the United Nations General Assembly has inter alia, agreed that systems for providing adopted the United Nations Declaration on the information on how the safeguards are Rights of Indigenous Peoples; (d) The full and addressed and respected should be country- effective participation of relevant stakeholders, driven, implemented at the national level, in particular indigenous peoples and local and can be built upon existing systems. communities, in the REDD+ actions; (e) That Additionally, COP in Durban vide its decision actions are consistent with the conservation 12/CP.17 prescribed that each Party is required of natural forests and biological diversity, to submit “a summary of information on how ensuring that the REDD+ actions are not used all the agreed safeguards are being addressed for the conversion of natural forests, but are and respected throughout the implementation instead used to incentivize the protection of the REDD+ activities”. and conservation of natural forests and their ecosystem services, and to enhance other 1.8 Rationale for REDD+ All five activities of REDD+ being aligned different levels of administration. REDD+ with the precepts of the National Forest implementation with its coverage of natural Policy (NFP), constitute a common thread forests as well as trees outside forest (TOF), running through all programmes, schemes synergizes well with the socio-economic and projects of forestry sector in the country. development of local communities, raw REDD+ brings all actions and activities by all material requirement of wood-based industry, stakeholders on a common platform making it need for conservation of biodiversity including feasible to ensure a comprehensive monitoring plants and animals, providing a green and assessment of the performance of environment for people, and enhancing the forest management and development at forest carbon sink. 1.9 Dependence of Local Communities on Forest Resources and Concept of JFM Presently, around 1,73,000 forest fringe forest protection and management. The villages in the country exist (MoEF, 2006) concept of Joint Forest Management (JFM) where local communities are highly dependent recognizes the share of the protecting on forests for their bona fide needs especially communities over forest produce. The those of energy, food supplement, fodder, local communities and the State Forest livestock grazing, construction material, NTFP, Department jointly plan and implement forest traditional medicines, etc. regeneration and development activities, and the communities are rewarded with In 1990 India initiated a very successful substantial share in forest produce in return programme involving local communities in 5 Introduction and the Context for their efforts in protection and management The concept of JFM in India is a step towards of forests. JFM based on principle of “Care the conversion of low-productivity forests to and Share” now has more than 1,18,213 productive forests. Improving the stocking JFM Committees (JFMCs) involving around of poorly stocked forests will also in turn 20 million people managing over 25 mha of increase carbon stocks. Currently, JFM covers forest area. JFM has enabled protection and approximately 29.8% of the total forest area of regeneration of existing forests, and raising the country. Over the years, the involvement of indigenous forest plantations, which is of the local communities in the management contributing in conservation of existing forests of forests has increased manifold due to as also in increasing the carbon stocks. This setting up of JFMCs in many parts of India. The approach matches well with the objectives of implementation of JFM programme aims to National Environment Policy, 2006 which, inter- improve quality of forests besides improving alia, emphasizes the identification of climate the economic status of local people involved in change impacts on forests, and the need to the protection and management of forests. internalize the mitigation and adaptation measures with respect to forest management. 1.10 Eco-development in Community Areas Eco-development programmes are being on the resources of Protected Areas, their implemented in and around Protected involvement in conservation of biological Areas in the country with the objectives of resources, capacity building and alternative reducing dependency of rural communities employment generation interventions. 1.11 Involvement of Local Communities in REDD+ In India tribals, forest dwellers and other Act, 2006. The Act bestows on the local local communities have always enjoyed legal indigenous communities the responsibilities safeguards to exercise their customary rights and authority for sustainable use of forest, and traditions. Acknowledging the importance conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of indigenous communities in maintaining of ecological balance. This is intended to forest ecosystems, the Government of strengthen the conservation regime of the India has recognized the forest rights of the forests, along with ensuring the livelihood and indigenous communities through enactment food security of the forest dwelling Scheduled of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) 1.12 Need for Increase and Improvement in Forest and Tree Cover All five activities of REDD+ coalesce in the in forest cover is supported by the fact that single objective of increase and improvement country’s significant extent of forest areas fall in forest and tree cover (FTC), which is in in the categories of moderately dense, and tune with the goal of National Forest Policy open forests being subjected to continuous of bringing 33% of country’s land area under degradation and to a much smaller extent FTC. Scope for increase and improvement to drivers of deforestation. According to 6 Introduction and the Context FSI (2017), country’s forest cover presently km2 (9.18%) respectively. A large number of comprises Very Dense Forest (VDF) having programmes and schemes of the MoEFCC and canopy density >70%, Moderately Dense State Governments including the Green India Forest (MDF), having canopy density of Mission, National Afforestation Programme, 40-70%, and Open Forest (OF) with canopy and Integrated Forest Protection Scheme are density of 10-40%, spread over 98,158 km2 aimed at development of FTC in the country. (2.99%), 301,318 km2 (9.38%), and 301,797 1.13 Addressing Drivers of Forest Degradation and Deforestation To successfully and effectively address technology and equipment will be essential to the drivers of deforestation and forest obviate the avoidable loss of forest biomass. degradation, it will be imperative to first Continuous and systematic monitoring of identify these drivers. In India, such drivers, insect and pest infestation, and status of inter alia, besides dependence of local invasive species, and deploying effective and communities on forest resources include timely management techniques to counter uncontrolled forest fires, insect and pest the negative impacts of these afflictions infestation, and rampant spread of invasive will be necessary. The strategy proposes species. Providing alternatives for various to develop an institutionalized system for forest products being collected and used by addressing drivers of deforestation and forest the local communities mostly residing on degradation in collaboration with State Forest the fringes of the forest for sustaining their Departments and forestry institutions with livelihoods, will be one important step for active involvement of local communities and addressing the drivers. Quick detection of voluntary agencies at ground level. forest fires and their control using modern 1.14 India’s NDC to UNFCCC: Forestry Sector Targets Forest and tree cover besides meeting the goal provides a spin-off service by providing non- of the national Forest Policy, and livelihood carbon benefits, other ecosystem services and needs of the local communities are also by abating industrial pollution. crucial to meeting the country’s Nationally REDD+ is now well matured at international Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC level. India is fully committed to implement the under Paris Agreement. To meet the NDC REDD+ activities and therefore has developed target, improvement and increase in cover of its National REDD+ Strategy. The National natural forests will need to be supplemented REDD+ Strategy of India outlines the facilitative by a concerted focus on trees outside forests and enabling environment for implementing (TOF), which contribute significantly to the REDD+, the strategy to be adopted and an country’s carbon sink. Action with respect to implementation framework complying the TOF will form a significant part of the REDD+ various REDD+ agreements under the UNFCCC. strategy aimed at creating additional forest The strategy has been developed with due carbon sink by 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 diligence involving inputs from various expert equivalent by 2030 as communicated in the committees and stakeholders consultations. country’s NDC to UNFCCC. Forest and tree The process involved in the developing cover while essential for NDC, additionally National REDD+ Strategy is given in Annex I. 7 2 Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India The policy and legal framework that has almost over three decades supports the evolved in tune with the Constitutional important precept of REDD+ that natural provisions are effectively attuned to resources are to be conserved and protected safeguarding the natural resources of the for enhancement of ecosystem services for country including forests, wildlife and the benefit of local community dependent biodiversity in general. This framework guides thereon. The other safeguards inherent in and directs the sustainable management the concept of REDD+, i.e., conservation and of forests ensuring the conservation of preservation of biodiversity, enhancement of biodiversity and also respecting and upholding ecosystem services, respect for knowledge, the rights of the local communities on lands traditions and rights of local communities, and and forest products. open and transparent forest governance, etc. are fully covered under various legislations Various acts and legislations in India are a mentioned below. A brief mention of strong testimony of country's commitment the relevant legislations in the following to the philosophy of forest conservation. paragraphs brings out clearly the synergy and Provisions of the Policies and Acts described support of the legislations for implementation hereafter are in tune with the constituents of of REDD+ in India. REDD+. Further, the people centric approach adopted in the management of forests for 2.1 Indian Forest Act, 1927 This is the country-wide Act to consolidate the ensuring conservation of biodiversity of the law relating to forests, the transit of forest- natural forests as also enhancing the quality produce and the duty leviable on timber and and extent of the forest and tree cover in the other forest-produce. Proper implementation country, which, in turn, contribute to enhance of the provisions of this Act is capable of REDD+ performance. 2.2 Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 As this Act provides for the protection of wild adherence to safeguards of REDD+ relating animals, birds and plants and for matters to conservation of biodiversity and non- connected therewith or ancillary or incidental conversion of natural forests into plantations. thereto, it perfectly synergises with the Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India 2.3 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 This is the Act to provide for the prevention water conservation, and to avoid activities that and control of water pollution and maintaining would adversely impact the quality of natural or restoring wholesomeness of water. REDD+ or stored water. implementation will need to ensure soil and 2.4 Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is one of forest land for non-forest purposes was around the most effective legislations contributing to 1,60,000 hectares per annum from 1951 to reduction in deforestation. This was enacted 1976. It come down drastically to 32,000 ha to reduce indiscriminate diversion of forest annually (MoEFCC, 2016) during 1980-2011 lands for non-forestry purposes, and to help after the implementation of this Act (Figure regulate and control the land use changes in 2.1). Being an Act for regulating diversion of forests. The Act empowers only the Union forest land for non-forestry purposes, and to Government to allow the diversion of forest strike a balance between conservation and for non-forestry use. With the enactment of development, it helps to enhance performance this act, the deforestation and conversion of REDD+ implementation in the country by of forest lands to non-forest use has been supporting conservation and improvement of drastically reduced. The pace of diversion of natural forests. 4.5 4 3.5 Area (in Million hectare) 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 1951-1976 1980-2016 Year (Source: MoEFCC, 2016) Figure 2.1: Impact of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 on pace of forest diversion for non forest purpose 2.5 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 This Act provides for the prevention, control obligatory on REDD+ activities not to give rise and abetment of air pollution making it to or abet air pollution. 10 Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India 2.6 Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 An act to provide for protection and environmental problems that are peculiar to improvement of environment and for matters different parts of the country. REDD+ activities connected therewith, it empowers the Central need to ensure that their implementation does Government to establish authorities to prevent not result in any abetment of pollution of air, pollution in all its form and to tackle specific water, land or any other natural resource. 2.7 National Forest Policy, 1988 The principal aim of National Forest Policy livelihood security of people, of the present (NFP), 1988 is to ensure environmental and future generations, based on sustainable stability and maintenance of ecological management of forests for the flow of balance. The policy aims for maintaining one- ecosystem services. In order to achieve the third of the country’s geographical area under national goal for eco-security, the country forest and tree cover and calls for massive should have a minimum of one-third of the afforestation and social forestry programmes total land area under forest and tree cover. with people’s participation for increasing the The draft National Forest Policy (2018) also forest and tree cover in the country. The core lays emphasis on Integrating climate change aim of NFP perfectly synergises with REDD+ mitigation and adaptation measures in forest objective of climate change mitigation in management through the mechanism of forestry sector. More the area under forest, REDD+ so that the impacts of the climate more the mitigation service it will provide. change are minimised. Under the draft policy The National Forest Policy (1988) is presently strategic actions especially sustainable forest under revision. The overall objective and management will be taken to strengthen goal of the draft National Forest Policy forest-based climate change mitigation and (2018) is to safeguard the ecological and adaptation. 2.8 Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram Act, 1996 also known as PESA, was enacted where autonomous councils exist) are not to enable tribal self rule in these areas. The covered by PESA, as these states have their Act extended the provisions of Panchayats own Autonomous Councils for governance. to the tribal areas of nine states that have PESA gives special powers to the Gram Fifth Schedule Areas. Most of the North Sabhas in scheduled areas especially for the eastern states under Sixth Schedule Areas management of natural resources. 2.9 Biological Diversity Act, 2002 The Act provides for conservation of biological knowledge and for matters connected diversity, sustainable use of its components therewith or incidental thereto. Essence of and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits this Act is manifested in the core concept of arising out of the use of biological resources REDD+ implementation, which provides for 11 Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India uncompromising safeguards for conservation communities who are privy to the knowledge of biological diversity of natural forests, and about different uses of forest biodiversity. also for upholding the rights of the local 2.10 National Environment Policy, 2006 This policy which builds on the existing policies from conservation than from degradation of related to preservation of natural resources resource. The policy emphasises partnership of is intended to guide action in developing different stakeholders. If local communities are regulatory reforms, and programmes and motivated to enhance and conserve the forest projects for environmental conservation by and wooded areas, they get the benefit of the Central and State Governments. The enhanced goods and services generated from dominant theme of the policy is that the the forest ecosystems. Mitigation is one of the people dependent on natural resources services provided by a forest ecosystem, and for their livelihood obtain better livelihood thus add quantum to REDD+ performance. 2.11 The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 This is the important Act to recognise and the nature of evidence required for such vest the forest rights and occupations in recognition and vesting in respect of forest forest land in forest dwelling scheduled land. Implementation of this Act contributes tribes and other traditional forest dwellers towards adherence to the safeguards related who have been residing in such forests for to rights of the local communities with respect generations but whose rights could not be to their proprietorship of land and non-timber recorded; and to provide for a framework forest products. for recording the forest rights so vested and 2.12 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 This Act enables creation of a special tribunal conservation of forests and for seeking to handle the expeditious disposal of the compensation for damages caused to people cases pertaining to environmental issues. The or property due to violation of environmental stated objective is to provide a specialized laws or conditions specified while granting forum for effective and speedy disposal of permissions. cases pertaining to environment protection, 2.13 National Water Policy, 2012 The objective of the National Water Policy is also stated that conservation of rivers, river to take cognizance of the existing situation, to corridors, water bodies and infrastructure propose a framework for creation of a system should be undertaken in a scientifically of laws and institutions and for a plan of action planned manner through community with a unified national perspective. The policy participation. 12 Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India 2.14 National Agroforestry Policy, 2014 The policy underlines the environmental value addition of the tree products. The policy contribution of agroforestry by preventing perfectly synergises with objectives of REDD+ deforestation, and promoting carbon storage, implementation in the country by explicitly biodiversity conservation, and soil and supporting the coverage of trees outside forest water conservation. Agroforestry provides (TOF), and by preventing decimation of natural employment to rural as well as urban people forests. through production, industrial processing and 2.15 National Working Plan Code-2014 According to National Working Plan Code- involvement in planning and management of 2014 (for Sustainable Management of forests fulfilling socio-economic and livelihood Forests and Biodiversity in India) the forest needs of the people. management planning must provide for Chapter 2 of the National Working Plan Code- sustainable management of forests and its 2014, refers to REDD+ at paragraph 17 of biodiversity as enshrined in the National National Working Plan Objectives and other Forest Policy, encompassing the ecological Management Planning. Paragraph 17 states, (environmental), economic (production) “…..Implementation of REDD+, therefore and social (including cultural) dimensions. requires efforts/mechanisms to measure forest The objectives for attaining this goal include carbon, interventions and payments to local conservation of forests and reducing forest people in addition to alternative activities degradation, maintenance and enhancement such as fodder development to avoid lopping of ecosystem services including ecotourism, of tree branches, and efficient cooking energy enhancement of forest productivity together devices, etc.” The linkage of REDD+ with forest with establishment of regeneration to improve measurements in the Code is mentioned at forest health and vitality as per ecological para 26, which, inter alia, reads, “……A robust and silvicultural requirements of the species, and dynamic national carbon MRV based progressively increasing the growing stock and on forest resource assessment of working carbon sequestration potential, maintenance plan can also be realized for REDD+ provided of biological diversity, sustainable yield of sufficient resources are made available to the forest produce, prevention of soil erosion and States for estimating carbon from different stabilization of the terrain; improvement and pools of forest carbon”. regulation of hydrological regime; people’s 2.16 National Action Plan on Climate Change India has launched National Action Plan implementation of the NAPCC is designed to on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008 and take place through eight National Missions, identifies a number of measures that which form the core of the National Action simultaneously advance the country’s Plan and incorporate multi-pronged, long-term development and climate change related and integrated strategies for achieving India’s objectives of adaptation and mitigation. The key goals in the context of climate change. 13 Existing Legal and Policy Framework in India National Action Plan on Climate Change: Eight National Missions

1. Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

2. National Mission for Enhance Energy Efficiency

3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

4. National Water Mission

5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystems

6. National Mission for a Green India

7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

8. National Mission for Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change National Mission for a Green India also called and adaptation of climate change in the Green India Mission (GIM) is one of the key forestry sector (MoEFCC, 2014). missions under NAPCC dealing with mitigation 2.17 National Mission for Empowerment of Women, 2010 The Government of India has undertaken engage them in the development process’. The various initiatives over the years including mission of this policy is to create an effective policy reforms, programmes and action plans framework to enable the process of developing at various levels for empowering women policies, programmes and practices, which and facilitates their active participation in will ensure equal rights and opportunity for the social, economic and political life of the women in the family, community, workplace country. Some of major policy measures and in governance. From aforesaid, it can be of Government of India include inter alia, concluded that the present legal and policy reservation of one third to 50% of seats for framework is quite consistent and supportive women in the local Governments for ensuring of women’s participation in the REDD+. equal representation of women and to bring Thus, the entire policy and legal framework gender parity. National Environment Policy as detailed heretofore, supports the (2006) seeks inter alia, elimination of gender conceptualization and implementation of disparities. National Policy on Education (1986) REDD+ in India. However, constant review provides for universal access and enrolment. and monitoring of REDD+ implementation National Mission for Empowerment of as also amendments in present legislative Women (2010) aims to strengthen processes framework in future will be required to ensure that promote all round development of continuation of synergy between the general women. The New National Policy for Women legal framework and the REDD+ execution. (Draft 2016) is more focused on ‘from being recipients of welfare benefits to the need to 14 3 The Strategy 3.1 Objective The overarching objective of National REDD+ Agreements, Warsaw Framework for REDD+, Strategy (NRPS) of India is to facilitate Paris Agreement, and the national legislative implementation of REDD+ programme in and policy framework for conservation and the country in conformity with relevant improvement of forests and the environment. decisions of UNFCCC, in particular the Cancun 3.2 Definition of forest for REDD+ The definition of forest in Indian context density of more than 10 percent irrespective for REDD+ will be the same as used by the of ownership, land use and legal status. Such Forest Survey of India (FSI) for preparation lands may not necessarily be a recorded forest of national GHG inventory. The definition area. It also includes orchards, bamboo and of forest followed by FSI is “all lands, more palm.” than one hectare in area, with a tree canopy Warsaw Framework for REDD+ In order to access results based finance through implementation of national REDD+ strategies was the key outcome of COP19. The set of following seven key decisions is known as Warsaw Framework for REDD+:

1. Work programme on results-based finance (Decision 9/CP.19)

2. Coordination of support for the implementation of activities in relation to mitigation actions in the forest sector by developing countries, including institutional arrangements (Decision 10/ CP.19)

3. Modalities for national forest monitoring systems (Decision 11/CP.19)

4. The timing and the frequency of presentations of the summary of information on how all the safeguards are being addressed and respected (Decision 12/CP.19)

5. Guidelines and procedures for the technical assessment of submissions from Parties on proposed forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels (Decision 13/CP.19)

6. Modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying (Decision 14/CP.19)

7. Addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation (Decision 15/CP.19) The Strategy 3.3 Coverage of REDD+ 3.3.1 Forests REDD+ will cover all trees within forest areas and reporting of the REDD+ performance at and tree outisde forests (TOF) also irrespective the national level and sub-national level. To of the legal status or ownership of land. All start with, the coverage or eligibility of forests forest areas including TOF which qualify is considered in the context for different land under the definition of forest as given in the categories in India, in the context of their sub-section 3.2 will be covered under REDD+ eligibility to qualify as one of the five activities programmes. This will facilitate measurement of REDD+. 3.3.2 Trees Outside Forests Agroforestry, urban and peri-urban forestry, the coverage or eligibility, include forest avenue plantations, orchards and plantations land, cropland, wetlands, settlements and on wasteland are included in this component. wastelands. The eligibility of land categories Broad land categories, the sub-categories to qualify as a given REDD+ activity will under each land category, the suitability depend on the definition of the five REDD+ of the particular land category to qualify activities. In Annex II, based on the common as a particular REDD+ activity, the mode of understanding of the components of REDD+ carbon benefit accrual and the feasibility or and its relevance to India, the eligibility of land potential in India are given in Annex II. The categories for REDD+ activities is determined. land categories considered for assessing 3.4 Future Coverage Present scope under REDD+ mechanism monitor the change in carbon stocks in these is to cover the forests. Research is being ecosystems. Therefore, with an eye on future, undertaken to assess the potential of carbon grasslands, blue carbon and phytoplankton are sequestration by grasslands, and coastal sea included as potential sinks of carbon. grasses, etc, and to develop methodologies to 3.4.1 Grasslands Presently, pristine natural grasslands are with a view to working on and developing not eligible to qualify as a REDD+ activity as methodologies in future for MRV of the carbon these do not meet the eligibility criterion of accumulation these lands. India with its vast definition of a REDD+ forest. However, since natural grasslands in the mountains, plains these are potential sink of biomass carbon, and deserts of the country can contribute sequestering more and more carbon and substantially in enhancing its land carbon adding to the pool of soil organic carbon, it sinks by investing technological, financial and is considered worthwhile to include these human resources in effective management of as a land use with high mitigation potential. its grasslands resource. Grasslands are being flagged in the NRPS 16 The Strategy 3.4.2 Blue Carbon Mangroves, coastal sea grasslands and salt under REDD+ for the same reason as natural marshes are also an important sink of carbon grasslands as these do not qualify the of biomass origin. These ecosystems are definition of a REDD+ activity. However, if not only important for their contribution in these are protected and managed scientifically, addressing climate change mitigation, but these have the potential of capturing and also for the valuable ecosystem services they locking huge quantities of CO2 from the provide to the local communities. Presently, atmosphere in their vegetative parts and some of these systems are also not covered organic soil. 3.4.3 Phytoplankton Phytoplanktons are huge sinks of atmospheric ecosystems do not qualify to be a REDD+ CO2. Efficient scientific management of activity, but seeing their large mitigation phytoplankton ecosystems has the potential potential, it is considered apt to flag these for of substantially enhancing the mitigation future consideration as a potential sink. capability of this resource. Presently, such 3.4.4 Others Forest or tree cover in less than one hectare will also be considered for REDD+ being a area and having less than 10% canopy growth potential sink of carbon. 3.5 Phased Approach of REDD+ In accordance with the Cancun Agreements, (iii) Phase 3 is the evolvement into results- REDD+ activities are defined and implemented based actions that should be fully in three phases: measured, reported and verified. (i) Phase 1 is the development of national Massive capacity building is needed for strategies or action plans, policies and implementing all phases of REDD+ actions measures, and capacity-building; including result based actions. India would like to seek financial support for these (ii) Phase 2 is the implementation of actions from variety of sources domestic, national policies and measures and bilateral, multilateral and other instruments national strategies or action plans that available under UNFCCC agreed financial could involve further capacity-building, arrangements. technology development and transfer and results-based demonstration activities; 3.6 Sub-national REDD+ Approach As per UNFCCC decisions, REDD+ can be interim measure. This provision can be implemented at sub-national level as an usefully employed in India to seek financial 17 The Strategy (Source: FSI, 2001) Figure 3.1: Physiographic zones of India support for REDD+ implementation in regional level falling in same physiographic a physiographic zone comprising more zone, e.g., Himalayan States, Northeastern than one State. State Governments may States, Western Ghats, etc. can benefit from collaborate and develop REDD+ Action Plan sub-national approach for REDD+. in a physiographic zone. The country has Table-3.1 Physiographic Zones of India been divided into 14 physiographic zones by

1. Western Himalayas 8. North Deccan the FSI (Figure 3.1). A physiographic zone,

2. Eastern Himalayas 9. East Deccan on the basis of topography, latitude and 3. North East 10. South Deccan altitude, besides climatic and soil properties, 4. Northern Plains 11. Western Ghats constitutes geographical areas that exhibit 5. Eastern Plains 12. Eastern Ghats broad similarities in factors responsible for 6. Western Plains 13. West Coast the growth of tree vegetation. Physiographic 7. Central Highlands 14. East Coast zones classified by the Forest Survey of India Source: FSI, 2001 (FSI, 2001) are given below in Table 3.1. Following physiographic zonal approach, with However, in order to seek REDD+ finance at respect to Phase II of REDD+ implementation, sub-national level, collaborating States will India can initiate pilot/ demonstration REDD+ need to develop, as an interim measure, a sub- activities on (i) reducing emissions from forest national FREL/FRL with corresponding Forest degradation, (ii) conservation of forest carbon Monitoring System with technical support stocks, (iii) sustainable management of forests from Forest Survey of India and other relevant (SMF), and (iv) enhancement of forest carbon institutions. States or a group of States at stocks (EFCS). Subject to availability of funding, 18 The Strategy India may launch pilot/ demonstration stocks changes, and forest carbon accounting. projects, on aforesaid REDD+ activities to These projects may be taken at locations understand the intricacies of maintaining covering different physiographic zones of the baseline forest carbon stocks, forest carbon country. 3.7 REDD+ Activities 3.7.1. Reducing Deforestation Deforestation occurs only when forest land is induced conversion of forested land to non- converted to non-forest purposes. This does forested land’. In India there is no large scale not, however, include forest areas subjected deforestation happening except in a few states. to harvesting as a part of forest management, All the same, there is scope of increasing the where the harvested plots recover and performance of REDD+ by further reducing the forest regenerates. In Decision 16/CMP.1, deforestation. deforestation is defined as ‘the direct human- 3.7.2 Reducing Forest Degradation Forest degradation is a complex process and its Thus, in the Indian context, degradation drivers may be completely different than those may be defined as "Transition from higher to for deforestation. A degraded forest may not lower tree crown density and/or removal of become totally deforested. Degradation refers lower canopy biomass or disturbance of soil, to changes within forest which negatively leading to reduction in forest carbon stocks". affect the structure or function of the forest Monitoring of tree crown density is the most stand or site and thereby lower the capacity of cost-effective and practical alternative for the forest to supply products or services. monitoring degradation. India has been monitoring and reporting forest cover according to tree crown density classes. 3.7.3 Conservation of Forest Carbon Stocks Conservation could be defined as high carbon density and its maintenance "Maintenance of area under existing forests through conservation and development to (and tree cover) to conserve, maintain, and reduce pressure on forests, and ii) banning possibly enhance the forest carbon stocks" or regulation of extraction or harvesting of through conservation efforts. This could biomass, protection of forests and improved involve, i) consideration of forests with fire management. Carbon Sequestration estimates in Protected Areas Avoided emissions from deforestation and forest degradation through conservation of existing protected areas (PAs) covering 16 mha of forest land and accounting for 5 percent of the geographical area of the country are capable of adding 2 tonne of dry biomass per ha on an average every year. Continued protection of PAs will add 47 mtCO2eq to forest carbon sink every year. (16*2.0*0.4= 12.8 mtC= 47.0 mtCO2eq) Source: Planning Commission (2014) 19 The Strategy The area under Protected Area (PA) carbon stocks are not only conserved but also management is increasing in India and has grow with the time. REDD+ can be considered potential for REDD+ activity on ‘Conservation as a financing or resource mobilization tool of Forest Carbon Stocks’. Since in the PAs, all to strengthen management of PAs in future. extraction is regulated or highly restricted, Himalayan regions where green felling is the forest vegetation, biodiversity and in turn banned over past three decades can also be forest carbon stocks are potentially conserved. considered as candidate region for developing With the addition of biomass due to annual REDD+ concept of ‘Conservation of forest increment, the biomass as well as the forest carbon stocks’. 3.7.4 Sustainable Management of Forests Sustainable management of forests (SMF) Plan approved by the Government of India. in the context of Cancun Agreements refers The working plans are prepared following to the application of forest management a strict National Forest Working Plan Code. practices for the primary purpose of sustaining The concept of Sustainable Management of constant levels of carbon stocks over time. Forests assures that allowable cut should not SMF aims to minimize reduction in carbon exceed the growth during the period, rather it stocks in forests and plantations through should be less than the actual increment for sustainable harvesting practices. SMF could be the period. Thus, SMF contributes towards defined as "management of forests to sustain increase in the forest carbon stocks and also the biomass productivity, even if subjected to ensures continuous flow of other goods and harvest or other management practices for services. Also, another essential requirement prevention of long-term loss of carbon stocks". of SMF is to ensure that natural forests are not By adopting sustainable harvesting practices, converted into plantations, but are maintained carbon stock or biomass productivity could and managed as natural vegetation. be maintained. In due course of time when SMF activities can be used to incentivize harvests become less than annual increments, maintenance of forest carbon stocks, by SMF areas could register a net increase in means of improvement in the quality of carbon stocks. existing stocks and sustainable extraction of Sustainable management of forests (SMF) is biomass. practiced by implementing the Forest Working 3.7.5 Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks This approach could involve restoring carbon Indian context, enhancement of carbon stocks stocks in degraded forests, or creating forests could be defined as "conversion of non- in non-forest areas and approaches may forest or degraded forests to forests through include afforestation, reforestation, restoration afforestation, reforestation, restoration (through natural regeneration, assisted natural forestry and forest management practices, regeneration or planting), rehabilitation, or leading to enhancement of carbon stocks". forest landscape restoration. Thus, in the 20 The Strategy Large potential for implementing these under this category of REDD+ activities. activities exists in India. Agroforestry and farm National Agroforestry Policy 2014 creates an forestry also have a potential to be included enabling environment for this action. 3.8 New Initiatives for Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks 3.8.1 Namami Gange National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) The programme aims to rejuvenate the river has appraised the Detailed Project Report on Ganga through massive plantation exercise, in ‘Forestry Intervention in River Ganga’. The five Ganga Basin states - Uttarakhand, Uttar project will focus on augmenting water flow Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal on together with abating the pollutants loads 83,946 sq km (or 83,94,600 ha) of identified of river Ganga through appropriate forestry diverse forest areas over the next five years. intervention along the banks of river Ganga. 3.8.2 Forestry Interventions for Other Major River Catchments This holistic approach of appropriate forestry generation activities through regulated interventions by way of protection, habitat tourism and awareness for other major management, afforestation, catchment river catchments like Brahmaputra, Yamuna, treatment-soil and moisture conservation Narmada, Tapti, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri work, ecological restoration of vital riparian and Mahanadi will also be proposed for forest buffer, bioremediation, improved implementation. The enhancement of forest livelihood of forest dependent communities carbon stocks attained through these actions and forest dwellers, and alternate income shall also be considered for REDD+ actions. 3.8.3 Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantations, beautification & Maintenance) Policy - 2015 India has launched the Green Highways developers will need to earmark 1 per cent of (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and a project’s total cost for planting of trees and Maintenance) Policy - 2015. Under this policy shrubs along national highways. Under this there will be four columns of trees alongside policy, around 1,40,000 kilometres of national highways. According to new policy, road highways will be lined with trees . 3.8.4 Innovative Programmes Innovative programmes like Green Army Department called for the initiative of Green of Maharashtra, an initiative of the State Army. To ensure partnership from people of Government of Maharashtra to assist that all walks of life, this initiative has been taken state to execute massive plantation program for an on-line channel for public engagement, intended to increase the forest cover in the partnership, sharing and dissemination. state from the current 20% to the nationally Such initiatives by other state Governments mandated 33% of Maharashtra's land area. will also motivate people to support REDD+ Insufficient manpower with the Forest Programmes in the states. 21 The Strategy 3.9 Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation Dependency of the communities on forest irrigation projects; industrial requirements; for livelihood or commercial needs results expansion of cities and towns and in deforestation and forest degradation. removals from forests as per silvicultural Understanding of the drivers of deforestation requirements. and forest degradation is important for (ii) Unplanned drivers comprise mainly developing sub-national action plans at unauthorized activities, which include physiographic zone level, and implementation unregulated anthropogenic removals by of REDD+ programme. The REDD+ Reference nearby households for consumptive uses Document of the country stated two types of like extraction of fuelwood, small timber drivers-one, that are planned and projected and NTFP; illegal logging and uncontrolled in accordance with policies, legal framework felling; social causes such as encroachment and management plans, and second, that of forest land for agriculture and housing; are spontaneous, beyond government and unregulated livestock grazing and fodder management control (MoEF, 2013): collection; natural disturbances caused (i) Planned drivers include developmental by forest fires, insect attack, disease activities, management initiatives and outbreak, forest dieback; and illegal mining projected uses such as road and railway operations. construction; coal, iron and other mining activities; hydroelectric power and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) The Government has launched “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna” for providing free LPG connections to 50 million women belonging to the 'Below Poverty Line' families over a period of 3 years starting in 2016. Objective of the scheme is to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households especially in rural areas. Use of fossil fuels and conventional fuel like cow dung, kerosene, biomass, etc. has serious implications on the health of rural womenfolk and children. Use of LPG as a cooking fuel helps in effectively addressing health hazards associated with the use of conventional sources of cooking fuels. It took the big step of Ujjwala and provided gas to 33 million families by September 2017. 3.10 Strategies for Addressing Deforestation and Forest Degradation Identification of drivers will help in devising the following for addressing the drivers suitable strategies for addressing the of deforestation and forest degradation drivers, and states shall be encouraged for (MoEF&CC, 2014): identification of drivers of deforestation and • Key to sustainability will be, meeting the forest degradation and develop appropriate challenge of addressing and managing the strategies to address the identified drivers. unplanned drivers and activities which The REDD+ Reference document stated are mainly the anthropogenic removals of 22 The Strategy forest products by local people from the forest degradation will be addressed by adjoining forest, and the illegal logging providing alternatives of forest use to and mining activities within forest, besides the local community, income generation losses caused due to occurrence of natural activities and also by ensuring sustainable calamities. management of local forest resources through preparation and implementation • Strategy to address the drivers has of community centered micro plans. to be two pronged- it should ensure Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna to provide the protection of the existing forests, free LPG connections to poor families and simultaneously should make will be big leap in this direction as it will arrangements for providing the desired relieve rural people’s dependence on goods and services to the people through firewood as cooking fuel. alternatives. The effective implementation of regulation will help to minimize the • Creation of proper awareness amongst unplanned drivers. The natural calamities stakeholders can also play a key role in are unavoidable, but attempts can be deciding the level of participation and made to minimize the impacts. The commitment of different stakeholders effective policy, legal and management in addressing the drivers. Government framework for managing these drivers supported relevant initiatives, such include various Policies, Legislations, Acts, as supply of cheap cooking fuel; and regulations as mentioned in Chapter improved cook stoves; promoting non- 2 of this document. Implementation of conventional energy sources; low cost REDD+ in India should, inter alia, take into housing; improving agricultural and account the need for a workable strategy livestock productivity; effective and to address the drivers of deforestation and quality education for children; better forest degradation. This strategy should infrastructural facilities including be chalked out in a transparent manner health; and effective use of modern in consultation with the stakeholders communication, i.e., audio-video tools for including the local community, whose creating awareness among community greater involvement, in any case, will can mobilize public opinion in favour of be required in the management of protection and conservation of forests. forests. Drivers of deforestation and Improved Cook Stoves for Addressing Forest Degradation Avoided emissions from excessive use of fuel wood in cooking stoves in rural areas (800 million people or 160 million families) can significantly contribute to increase in forest carbon stocks by replacing ordinary cooking stoves with improved fuel efficient cooking stoves. Presuming that 75 percent of the fuel biomass used in rural areas comes from forest, and also that cooking stoves can reduce the fuel wood consumption by about 30 percent by improving energy efficiency, each rural family using fuel wood for energy can save about 300 kg of fuel wood annually, and consequently will not extract that much quantity of biomass from the forests. Forests from where the fuel wood is extracted are usually degraded, the entire quantum of fuel wood saved would result in equal amount of biomass left intact in the forests, thereby offsetting corresponding amount of emissions equal to 58.2 mtCO2eq. (160*0.75*0.3*0.4=14.4 mtC*44/12=52.8 mtCO2eq). Source: Planning Commission (2014) 23 The Strategy 3.11 Forest Productivity Enhancement through Research Improving the productivity of plantation undertake intensive and need-based research forests through use of quality seeds and on (i) forest inventory including growth yield seedlings of improved genotypes through tree assessment of forest products, (ii) increasing improvement program will help in enhancing forest productivity through forest genetic productivity of forests/plantations. Production resource management and tree improvement of quality seeds, seedlings, development (iii) ecosystem services (iv) biodiversity and deployment of a fairly large number of conservation, (v) reclamation of degraded genetically diverse clones in large scale clonal and mined areas for ecological security, (vi) plantation programs, long term breeding integrated pest management, (vii) invasive support, sound silvicultural management alien species management, (viii) forest fires, of plantations and continuous research (ix) forest hydrology and (x) carrying capacity and development support will be amongst of ecosystems etc. These actions will further the important strategies for achieving the enhance the capacity of the forest ecosystems targets of Green India Mission and other for carbon sequestration and community afforestation programmes. Research inputs on benefits, and will further complement the these activities will strategically contribute to REDD+ activities. advantage of REDD+ programmes. A Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) Focus of forestry research on productivity Certification Policy-cum-Strategy shall enhancement will be undertaken in an be developed to encourage and ensure integrated and multidisciplinary manner production and use of certified forest on forests and forest products aiming at reproductive material to enhance productivity increasing livelihood support and economic of Indian forests. growth. The strategy also proposes to 3.12 Capacity Building and Trained Human Resource Trained human resource capable of carrying achieved by building a cadre of trained local out forest related measurements at all levels community members, staff of all levels of SFDs of implementation of REDD+, including at local and other relevant line departments, and civil grassroots level will be created. This will be society. Green Skill Development Programme Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has taken up an initiative for skill development in the environment and forest sector to enable India's youth to get gainful employment and/or self employment, called the Green Skill Development Programme. The programme endeavours to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to sustainable development, which will help in the attainment of the Nationally Determined Contribution, Sustainable Development Goals and National Biodiversity Targets. Realizing the demand for green skilled youth, the Green Skill Development Programme has been conceptualized and developed in MoEFCC in consultation with the National Skill Development Agency, the nodal agency for synergizing skill development initiatives in the country, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 24 The Strategy ICFRE will be designated as a nodal with SFDs, FSI, IGNFA, CASFOS, IIFM, State organisation for discharging the responsibility Universities and civil society to execute the of building the capacity of all levels of the capacity building programme of all cadres of staff of the forest and other relevant line government, institutions, civil society and local departments, institutions, civil society, and communities. local communities. ICFRE will collaborate 3.12.1 Building a cadre of Community Foresters Support for REDD+ activities will also A well conceived REDD+ programme will necessitate developing extra hands from create additional jobs in forestry sector. within the community, mainly youths from In order to keep forest well adapted to the community who on one hand would climate change impacts, some of the provide service to the community, and on the activities where “community foresters” other hand would link to a large number of can be engaged effectively are: (i) assisted other service providers, including the Forest natural regeneration, (ii) soil and moisture Department and other agencies. conservation, (iii) harvesting, thinning, and hygienic removals, (iv) forest nurseries and Given the fast changing rural scenario raising of quality planting stocks, and (v) with an increasing number of educated control of forest fires, pest and disease and unemployed/ under-employed youth, the invasive species. strategy will support development of youth cadres as Community Foresters to lead This action would require large number the charge at the local level. Green Skill of trained human resource. Rural youth Development programme for imparting will be trained under Prime Minister’s Skill various forestry related specialised skill will Development Programme of the Ministry be implemented with the help of NGOs, of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. voluntary organisations and civil society. Although the jobs created will be seasonal Support of the Forest Department, research in nature, but will develop a strong institutions, universities/colleges from local belongingness of community youth with forest area and NGOs would help develop this cadre protection programmes which will eventually of Community Foresters as self-employed lead to a successful REDD+ implementation change agents. with community benefits. 3.13 Apportioning Targets To facilitate implementation of REDD+, meet the objectives of Green India Mission and to channelise it towards achieving the and NDC target. The State targets will also NDC target of achieving the additional CO2 subsume the achievements of tree plantation sink of 2.5-3.0 billion tCO2eq by 2030, the schemes and projects being implemented by Government of India in the MoEFCC may in other Ministries and Departments of Central future consider to undertake an exercise in Government (excluding NHAI), like Ministry consultation with the State/UT Governments of Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture to work out the appropriate targets of and Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Panchayati afforestation and reforestation (A&R) for Raj, etc. each State/UT that would enable the country 25 The Strategy 3.14 Infrastructure Required Additional infrastructure in shape of levels and that of the local community will not trained human capital and state of the art suffice, and it will need to be complemented equipment for carrying out forest and carbon by creating modern measuring capability with measurements at all levels is required. FSI latest equipment in each State. The existing is charged with the overall responsibility of space application centres and GIS facilities in measuring forest goods and services including the States will be strengthened and upgraded carbon. In its pivotal role of measuring, FSI will to enable these to carry out measurements be supported by SFDs and local communities. of forest carbon stocks of the State under Building capacity of the forest staff at all guidance of the FSI. 3.15 Finance Finance will be mobilised internally by be sourced through external funding from GCF allocation through GIM, CAMPA, Namami under UNFCCC mechanism. The budget deficit Gange Programme, Green Highways Policy, on this count will be estimated separately and etc. The deficit in finance to meet the NDC communicated to UNFCCC and GCF in due commitment on REDD+ implementation will course of time. 3.15.1 Finance Commission 14th Finance Commission has recommended 7.5% of the State’s forest cover. A part of this for devolution of funds from the federal devolution is expected to be ploughed into the pool to the States attaching a weightage of forestry sector. 3.15.2 Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 This Act has been enacted by the government regeneration, protection of forests, Green to systematically channelize the funds accrued India Programme, wildlife protection and other from levy on user agencies on account of related activities. CAMPA funds at present diversion of forest land under the Forest account for an amount of around Rs. 500 (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Compensatory billion which mainly will be used by the State Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Forest Departments for undertaking aforesaid Authority (CAMPA) funds are to be utilised activities. for raising plantations, undertaking natural 3.15.3 Green India Mission and National Afforestation Programme The GIM is one of the eight Missions under regime, especially India’s NDCs to UNFCCC. The the National Action Plan on Climate Change actual implementation period of the Mission (NAPCC), and was launched in 2014. It aims was to spread over 10 years, coinciding with to enable the forestry sector to play an the 12th and 13th Five Year Plan periods. The important role in protection of environment, Mission has a preparatory phase (2011-12), while enhancing the country’s green cover. a first phase (five years) and a second phase India needs to revisit the Green India Mission (five years). GIM activities need to be revisited objectives and timeframe in the light of new and carry forwarded till 2030 to coincide with developments under global climate change achieving NDC forestry targets. 26 The Strategy 3.15.4 Green Climate Fund Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the funding Payments pilot program, as well as a scorecard window of the UNFCCC established in 2010 to evaluate countries’ submissions to the to limit or reduce the GHG emissions in GCF. GEF also supports REDD+ readiness developing countries, and to help adapt programmes for phase I (Preparation of vulnerable societies to adverse impacts of National Strategy or Action Plans) and phase II climate change. The developed economies (implementation of national Strategy, Capacity have agreed to mobilise USD 100 billion per building and demonstration activities) of year by 2020. A part of this collection will REDD+. MoEFCC will work out the amount of be routed through GCF. The Board of GCF in gap funding required for full implementation its eighteenth meeting adopted the terms of REDD+, and communicate same to UNFCCC of reference for the REDD+ Results-Based for funding support by the GCF. 3.15.5 Mobilising Finance for Adaptation The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is investing in soil and moisture conservation, fire protection, developing countries’ efforts to adapt to the weed management, management of forest effects of climate change. GCF aims to deliver insects and pests, agroforestry, tree fodder a 50:50 balance between mitigation and production, NTFP management, bioenergy adaptation allocations in its portfolio. Forestry production, and biodiversity and ecotourism activities/actions supporting enhanced management activities shall be provided. This livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, will ensure jobs to the communities and in communities, and regions by effectively turn help forest ecosystems to adapt to climate engaging local communities in the forest change. Local communities will also be trained sector adaptation programmes, shall be to make them capable of assisting the SFDs developed. Skill development of community in carrying out forest related measurements. youths for various forest sector adaptation Such actions will also complement various activities like assisted natural regeneration, REDD+ activities. 3.15.6 Other External Sources of Funding COP Decision 9/CP.19 reaffirms that the predictable result based finance in a fair and progression of developing country Parties balance manner. Finance for REDD+ shall be towards results based actions occurs in the mobilised in accordance with the UNFCCC context of the provision of adequate and decisions on REDD+ finance. State REDD+ predictable support for all phases of REDD+ Cells in collaboration with NDE-REDD+ shall implementation. The result based finance explore the relevant and appropriate financing provided to developing country Parties that entity for the support of REDD+ actions in is new and additional and predictable may accordance with the laid down principles of come from wide variety of sources referred the financing entities. to in decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 65 (public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources), and decision 9/ CP.19 (including Green Climate Fund in a key role) to collectively channel adequate and 27 4 Implementation Framework 4.1 Conformity with UNFCCC Decisions National REDD+ Policy will follow the main source of the implementation guidance provisions laid down by all the relevant for REDD+ in developing countries. Cancun UNFCCC decisions. Most prominent among Agreements have a special place amongst these decisions are the Paris Agreement, all UNFCCC decisions as this provides scope Warsaw Framework for REDD+ and Cancun of REDD+ implementation by developing Agreements. These three decisions form the countries. 4.2 Conformity with National Policy and Legal Framework National REDD+ Policy will cover all types in tune with their contribution to enhance of forest areas including TOF irrespective carbon stocks. of ownership or control, but meeting the All actions pursuant to the NRPS will be requirement of the definition of forest implemented with due observance of all as adopted by the Forest Survey of India. relevant national laws, policies, rules and The Strategy aims at optimisation of all regulations. This legal and policy framework forest ecosystem services, including the provides the guidance and also constitutes sequestration of carbon thereby adding to the the boundary of applicable environmental, existing forest carbon stocks, and reducing social and economic standards to which all the pressure on forests by addressing drivers actions, their consequences and implications of deforestation and forest degradation. should conform to. This aspect has been dealt Performance based incentives will be paid to with in detail earlier in Chapter 2. stakeholders particularly local communities 4.3 Institutional Mechanism: Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders The broad institutional framework for Verification (MRV), and of enforcing social implementing REDD+ is already in place in and environmental safeguards, will be India. However, for REDD+ to be functional, required. The institutional arrangement for the a system capable of forest carbon stocks implementation of REDD+ in India is shown in accounting, Measuring, Reporting and figure 4.1. Implementation Framework National Governing Council REDD+ at Central Government Level (Overall guidance) Thematic Liaise with UNFCCC yy REL/RL/NFMS Advisory yy MRV Committee NDE-REDD+ yy SIS REDD+ � Policy, Finance Technical and State REDD+ Cell Working Group management yy Capacity building, etc. Figure 4.1: Institutional Mechanism for REDD+ implementation in India. An effective REDD+ implementation requires discharging different roles and responsibilities. participation of the governments, institutions, The roles and responsibilities of different civil society and local communities, all stakeholders are described below: 4.3.1 Central Government Acknowledging the global problem of climate Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) having change and India’s commitment to UNFCCC, the task of coordinating and guiding REDD+ government of India gives utmost priority related actions at the national level. The to the issues of climate change at national mandate of NGC-REDD+ includes coordinating level as well. In order to give more focus on and monitoring of REDD+ implementation and climate change related issues, the Ministry developing Sub-national REDD+ Action Plans. of Environment and Forests has been re- The NGC-REDD+ would also guide formulation, designated as Ministry of Environment, Forest development, finance, implementation, and Climate Change. National Action Plan monitoring, evaluation and measuring on Climate Change, Green India Mission, performance of REDD+ activities in the States. NDC targets are strong commitments of It will direct the MoEFCC and its relevant Government of India for addressing various agencies in developing and implementing issues related to Climate Change. appropriate policies, methodologies, procedures and technologies relating to REDD+ A National Governing Council for REDD+ implementation in the country. (NGC-REDD+) at the national level shall be established by the Ministry of Environment, Composition of the NGC-REDD+ shall be as follows:

1. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change : Chair

2. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change : Co-Chair

3. Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change : Member

4. Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, MoEFCC : Member

5. Director General, ICFRE : Member 30 Implementation Framework

6. Additional Director General of Forests (FC), MoEFCC : Member

7. Additional Secretary (Climate Change), MoEFCC : Member

8. Director General, FSI : Member

9. Inspector General of Forests (NAEB), MoEFCC : Member

10. Joint Secretary (Climate Change), MoEFCC : Member

11. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare : Member

12. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs : Member

13. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (4) (nominated by MoEFCC) : Member

14. REDD+ Experts (2) (nominated by MoEFCC) : Member

15. Inspector General of Forests (Forest Policy), MoEFCC : Member Secretary Tenure of the nominated members will be guidelines for the two flows: i) GOI to State on one-year basis. NGC-REDD+ will also Governments, and ii) State Government to be mandated to oversee and coordinate local communities. The guidelines will be implementation of National REDD+ Strategy issued by the Government of India for this and suggest amendments as deemed fit. purpose. An important role of the GoI will be to A Thematic Advisory Group shall be nominated develop the guidance for flow of incentives by the NGC-REDD+ to advise and oversee the from Central Government to the State aspects of MRV, National Forest Monitoring Governments, and also from State System and Forest Reference Level. FSI will Government further down to the local have a key role to play in this group. communities. There will be separate set of Constitution of the Thematic Advisory Group shall be as under: (i) Director General, FSI : Chair (ii) Dy. Director General, FSI (I/C Forest Inventory) : Member (iii) Representative of Director General, ICFRE : Member (iv) Representative of PCCFs of 2 States : Members (2) (v) Inspector General (Forest Policy), MoEFCC : Member (vi) REDD+ Expert (to be nominated by DG, FSI) : Member (vii) Senior Deputy Director (Forest Inventory), FSI : Member Secretary A REDD+ Technical Working Group constituted play a lead role in this group. Both groups shall by NGC-REDD+ will advise on the matters also assist State REDD+ Cells in devising their related to Safeguards, Policy, Finance, State REDD+ Action Plans. Management and capacity building. ICFRE will Constitution of the REDD+ Technical Working Group shall be as under:- (i) Director General, ICFRE : Chair (ii) Dy. Director General (Research), ICFRE : Member (iii) Representative of DG, FSI : Member (iv) Representative of Director, IIFM : Member 31 Implementation Framework (v) Members of Civil Society/NGO/ Forest User Groups (JFM etc) : Members (2) (vi) Representative of PCCFs of 2 States : Members (vii) REDD+ Experts (to be nominated by DG, ICFRE) : Members (2) (viii) Dy. Inspector General (Forest Policy), MoEFCC : Member (ix) Assistant Director General (BCC), ICFRE : Member Secretary National Designated Entity for REDD+: between the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Government of India has established a relevant bodies under the Convention on National Designated Entity for REDD+ (NDE- REDD+ issues with Joint Secretary (Climate REDD+) in the Climate Change Division of the Change) in the Ministry MoEFCC as Focal MoEFCC. The composition of the NDE-REDD+ Point for REDD+. As REDD+ intrinsically is a is given at Annex III. forestry specific issue, with this fact in view, the strategy proposes to revamp the present Revamping of the NDE-REDD+ : NDE-REDD+ structure and functioning of the NDE-REDD+. has been constituted to serve as a liaison The revised composition of the NDE-REDD+ shall be as follows:

1. Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, MoEFCC : Chair

2. Additional Director General of Forests (FC), MoEFCC : Member

3. Additional Secretary (Climate Change), MoEFCC : Member

4. Inspector General of Forests (Forest Policy), MoEFCC : National REDD+ Focal Point & Member

5. Inspector General of Forests (NAEB), MoEFCC : Member

6. Joint Secretary (Climate Change), MoEFCC : Member

7. Joint Secretary (Green India Mission), MoEFCC : Member

8. Director General, ICFRE/Representative of ICFRE : Member

9. Director General, FSI/Representative of FSI : Member

10. External REDD+ Experts (2) nominated by the Chair : Member

11. Representative of SFD (2) nominated by the Chair : Member

12. Dy. Inspector General of Forests (Forest Policy), MoEFCC : Member Convener The Inspector General of Forests (Forest (iii) Improvement for the effectiveness of Policy), MoEFCC will be the National REDD+ finance (results-based finance, technology Focal Point for UNFCCC. and capacity-building); (iv) Sharing of information of knowledge, Key functions of NDE-REDD+ will, inter alia, experiences and good practices for include the following: REDD+; (i) Facilitate the establishment of REDD+ (v) Liaison with UNFCCC and other Cells and capacity building for REDD+ in international bodies on REDD+ related the State Forest Departments and other issues and mobilizing REDD+ finance; stakeholders; (vi) Exchange of information as per UNFCCC (ii) Identification of possible needs and gaps requirements; in coordination of support for REDD+ at (vii) Approval of the national and state level National and International levels; 32 Implementation Framework REDD+ proposals for submission to and its timely periodic communication UNFCCC for funding; to UNFCCC in accordance with the COP (viii) Supervising the effective implementation decisions; and of National REDD+ Strategy; (x) Facilitating the development of (ix) Overseeing the implementation of the State REDD+ Action Plans and its REDD+ safeguard information system implementation by the States. 4.3.2 State Governments The strategy devolves major responsibility Department, and appoint a Nodal Officer to for execution of REDD+ activities and coordinate the activities of the State REDD+ measurement of their performance on the Cell. Guidelines prescribing role and mandate State Forest Departments. It places high of REDD+ Cell, and flow of incentives will be priority on capacity building of all levels of issued by the Government of India. States will the SFDs, the line departments, and the local be encouraged to develop their State Action communities to enable proper implementation Plan for REDD+. The proposed constitution and of REDD+ and accurate assessment and terms of reference of the State REDD+ Cell is measuring of REDD+ performance. Each State given as follows: will create a REDD+ Cell in the State Forest Constitution of State REDD+ Cell: Composition of the State REDD+ Cell shall be as follows:

1. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF : Chair

2. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning/Budget) : Member

3. PCCF/APCCF (nominated by Chairman) : Member

4. APCCF/ CCF (Monitoring) : Member

5. Regional APCCF, MoEFCC or his representative : Member

6. Two REDD+ Experts (Nominated by Chairman) : Member

7. Representative of prominent NGO : Member

8. APCCF/CCF/CF (In-charge of Afforestation) : Nodal Officer The Terms of Reference of the State REDD+ d. Development of State REDD+ Learning/ Cell shall be as follows: Knowledge sharing platform for exchange and sharing of knowledge a. Facilitate the implementation of National e. Explore the possibilities of REDD+ REDD+ Strategy in the State financing, development of REDD+ b. Preparation of State REDD+ action projects and facilitate REDD+ benefit plan, sub-national/State level reference sharing mechanism emission level/reference level, forest f. Arrange technical and institutional monitoring system and safeguard supports for implementation of REDD+ information system (SIS) g. Monitoring of REDD+ implementation in c. To oversee REDD+ preparation and the state implementation by JFMCs, Community Forestry Groups, Van Panchayats/Village h. To approve and submit the plans and Forest Protection Committees projects for REDD+ implementation to 33 Implementation Framework the NDE-REDD+, Government of India for k. To devise mechanisms to absorb lessons financial support from pilots, as an input to the national i. To organize training and capacity building and international policy processes and seminars and workshops for the officials development of the State Forest Department and l. REDD+ Cell will meet once in three village level institutions months. j. To institutionalize data collection and management, and adherence to safeguards 4.3.3 Forest Institutions Forest institutions will be key players in REDD+ capacity building of all stakeholders in the implementation contributing in accordance country. It will coordinate and mobilise the with their respective mandates, expertise and strengths and infrastructure of FSI, IGNFA, capabilities. FSI will be responsible for MRV CASFOS, IIFM, SFDs, State Forest Research of forest carbon stocks duly supported by the Institutes and Forestry Universities in building SFDs and local communities whereas ICFRE capacity of stakeholders at all levels of with its country-wide reach will take on the administration. responsibility of the nodal organisation for 4.3.4 Civil Society Civil society will collaborate with ICFRE and for the local communities including Gram SFDs in organising capacity building trainings Sabha and JFM Committees. 4.3.5 Local Communities Local communities will discharge the addressing all REDD+ activities depending responsibility of protecting, regenerating on local circumstances. Representation of and managing forests, and also share the local communities, indigenous people’s responsibility of measuring forest carbon organisations will also be encouraged to with the SFDs. A capacity building and skill participate in the National REDD+ Governance development programme for communities Structure (NGC-REDD+). will be undertaken with an aim of 4.4 Centrality of Local Community Forest management in India, essentially is and forest department work together for people centric. Recognizing importance of conservation of forests. This shift towards contribution and role of local communities involvement of local communities in forest in protection and management of forests, governance did not come about rapidly, the governance has come a long way from but evolved steadily over the last 30 years the earlier system of policing the forests, and beginning with enactment of the National keeping the local communities at an arm’s Forest Policy in 1988. NFP, for the first time, distance, to the present system when people defined the framework for involvement of local 34 Implementation Framework people in the joint management of forests. are not only to encourage participation of local The 1990 JFM guidelines are considered a communities in participatory management watershed in the history of management of forests, but also for safeguarding their of forests in the country. Some States like traditional rights over use of forests and forest Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have moved products. NRPS will ensure the continuity a step farther by experimenting on the and strengthening of the key role of local concept of community forest management, communities including tribals to implement which devolves almost full responsibility all phases of REDD+ along with the forest of management of forests on the local department. Adequate technical and financial community. These models, as deemed resources required for the purpose will be appropriate will be replicated to other states/ made available to realize this objective, which, regions in order to develop a facilitative regime inter alia, will include capacity building of JFM for REDD+ implementation in community Committees (JFMCs) and Eco-development forest management. Committees (EDCs). Various policies, laws, regulations and guidelines at national and sub national level 4.5 Safeguards for Rights of Local Community National REDD+ Strategy will adhere to information System (SIS) shall be developed Cancun safeguard principles at all stages of based on these existing principles. implementation. Additionally, the provisions For safeguarding the economic returns due to of NFP, JFM Guidelines, Forest Rights Act, the local communities, appropriate mechanism PESA and Panchayati Raj Act detail the will be developed in due course of time for prescriptions to be followed for safeguarding transfer of the accrued financial incentives the traditional rights of the local communities to the SFDs and finally to the communities over forest and forest products, ensuring in a fair, equitable and transparent manner gender balance, and seeking consent of the and proportionate to their performance, as communities in certain cases to allow non- assessed by the established MRV and result forestry use of the forest land. A Safeguard based payments. 4.6 Addressing Gender Equity Gender equity is inbuilt in the relevant of women in the local decision making laws, policies, rules and regulations dealing mechanisms in all local matters including with joint management of forests, and local management and development of forests. governance structures like Panchayats and REDD+ implementation intrinsically being Gram Sabhas influencing the management core of the existing and future management and health of forests. Reservation for and developmental initiatives and activities women in JFMCs and EDCs, and to the in forest, will ensure adherence to gender extent of 50% in Panchayati Raj Institutions centred sensitivity and transparency in forest (PRIs) are good indicators of government’s governance. intention to ensure meaningful participation 35 Implementation Framework 4.7 First Right of Use With Local Community National Forest Policy recognizes the demands forests in India does no longer ignore or of local communities as the first charge on undermine the interests and dependency of forest produce, and also provides for their local communities on the forest resource. active participation in protection, management No action or activity is to be permitted in and development of forests. In scheduled the forest that is inimical to the interest of areas, people’s consent is now necessary to the local communities. Adoption of NFP, JFM change the existing forest land use. These Guidelines, Forest Rights Act, and PESA are a developments indicate the paramountcy of pointer towards the primacy accorded to the local communities in the matter of recognition local communities, and also to respect for their and exercise of their rights over forest and rights. forest products. Management of public 4.8 Flow of Incentives Results-based finance provided to developing to State Governments and down to the local country Parties for the full implementation communities. of the REDD+ activities that is new, additional GOI/NGC-REDD+ will formulate the guidelines and predictable may come from a variety for flow of international and national of sources, public and private, bilateral and incentives in a transparent and equitable multilateral, including alternative sources. The manner. There will be two set of guidelines, incentives may be generated internationally, one dealing with flow of incentives from GoI and also at national level. Incentives at to State Governments, and the second dealing national level may be generated in shape with that from State Government to local of performance-based awards and financial communities. devolution from Government of India (GoI) 4.9 Roadmap and Action Plan For implementation of REDD+ in the country, (iii) Capacity building of all cadres of the SFDs certain preparations will be required. to enable it implement and accurately Preparations for REDD+ include the following: assesses and measure performance of REDD+ and other REDD+ related activities. (i) Establishment of a National Governing Council for REDD+ (NGC-REDD+) at (iv) Capacity building of Forest Working Plan the national level having the task Officers on assessment of forest carbon of coordinating and guiding REDD+ stocks, MRV and other REDD+ related related actions at the national level and issues for incorporating REDD+ in Forest revamping of NDE-REDD+ Working Plans of the Forest Divisions. (ii) Creation of a REDD+ Cell in each (v) Skill development of community State Forest Department (SFD), and youths for various forestry activities appointment of a Nodal Officer to like assisted natural regeneration, coordinate the activities of the State tree nurseries, soil and moisture REDD+ Cell. conservation, fire protection, weed 36 Implementation Framework management, management of forest enable FSI to cope with the added insects and pests, agroforestry, tree responsibility of undertaking REDD+ fodder production, NTFP management, measurements. bioenergy production, and biodiversity (viii) Creation of modern measuring capability and ecotourism management activities. with latest equipment in each State. The Local communities will also be trained to existing space application centres and GIS make them ably assist the SFDs in carrying facilities in the States will be strengthened out forest related measurements. and upgraded for the purpose. (vi) Creation of additional infrastructure for (ix) Focus of forestry research on productivity SFDs comprising technical expertise, in an integrated and multidisciplinary trained manpower and latest equipment manner on forests and forest products and facilities for forest carbon aiming at increasing livelihood support measurement. and economic growth. (vii) Expansion of the technical and (x) A Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) technological capability of ICFRE, FSI Certification Policy-cum-Strategy shall be and the SFDs by upgrading its existing developed. technical capacity, and by creating additional technical infrastructure to 37 References FSI (2001). India State of Forest Report 2001. MoEF (2009). Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. Ministry Study II: India Country Report. Working Paper of Environment and Forests, Government of No. APFSOS II/WP/2009/06. Bangkok: FAO, India. pp. 78. FSI (2013). India State of Forest Report 2013, MoEF (2012). India's Second National Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. Ministry Communication to UNFCCC. Ministry of of Environment and Forests, Government of Environment and Forests, Government of India. India. FSI (2015). India State of Forest Report 2015, MoEF&CC (2014). Reference document for Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. Ministry REDD+ in India. Ministry of Environment and of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Forests, Government of India. Government of India. MoEFCC (2014). India’s Progress in Combating FSI (2017). India State of Forest Report 2017, Climate Change. Briefing Paper for UNFCCC Forest Survey of India, Dehradun. Ministry COP 20 Lima, PERU, December, 2014, of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Government of India. Change, Government of India. MoEFCC (2015). India's First Biennial Update IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Report to the United Nations Framework Climate Change. Contribution of Working Convention on Climate Change. Ministry of Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report Environment, Forest and Climate Change, of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Government of India. Change (Edenhofer, O., R. Pichs-Madruga, Y. Sokona, E. Farahani, S. Kadner, K. Seyboth, MoEFCC (2016). Annual Report 2015-16. Ministry A. Adler, I. Baum, S. Brunner, P. Eickemeier, B. of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kriemann, J. Savolainen, S. Schlömer, Government of India. C. von Stechow, T. Zwickel and J.C. Minx, Planning Commission (2014). The Final Report of eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, the Expert Group on Low Carbon Strategies United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. for Inclusive Growth, Planning Commission, MoEF (2004). India’s first national communication Government of India. to UNFCCC. Ministry of Environment and World Bank (2006). India: Unlocking Opportunities Forests, Government of India. for Forest Dependent People in India. Report MoEF (2006). Report of the National Forest No. 34481 - IN, World Bank: South Asia Commission. Ministry of Environment and Region, pp.85. Forests, Government of India. Annexure

Annex I 40 Annexure

Annex II Coverage of different land categories suitable or eligible for REDD+ components, mode of carbon benefits and its feasibility and potential Land Sub-category Qualification of land How carbon benefit Feasibility and category category as a REDD+ accrues? potential of land activity category for REDD+ Forests Protected Area Conservation of By conserving the Highly feasible since forest carbon stocks existing high carbon community extraction density forests is banned and carbon stocks protected; Moderate potential Reserve Forests i) Reducing Halting conversion of Moderately feasible emissions from forest land to non- due to community deforestation forest uses dependence on forests ii) Reducing By reducing tree felling for fuelwood, small emissions from and extraction of forest timber and non-timber forest degradation products forest products; High potential iii) Conservation of By conserving existing forest carbon stocks stocks in high carbon density forests Community Forests Sustainable By harvesting forests Highly feasible by management of sustainably to ensure adopting sustainable forests carbon stock is harvest techniques maintained while and community meeting the needs of participation; Moderate the community potential Plantations Enhancement of Carbon stock enhanced High potential for forest carbon stocks through afforestation afforestation and highly and reforestation feasible by involving farmers and private sector Mangroves i) Reducing Carbon stocks Moderate potential and emissions from enhanced by reducing moderately feasible forest degradation tree felling and due to community extraction of forest dependence products ii) Enhancement of Carbon stock enhanced High potential and forest carbon stocks through afforestation highly feasible and reforestation Trees Outside Agro-forestry, Enhancement of Carbon stock enhanced High potential and Forests (TOF) Urban and Peri- forest carbon stocks through afforestation highly feasible Urban forestry, and reforestation Avenue plantations, Fruit Orchards on farmlands Plantations Carbon stock enhanced Moderate potential on wasteland, through afforestation due to low carbon Shelterbelts and reforestation in arid sequestration rates, zones high feasibility 41 Annexure

Annex III Composition of National Designated Entity for REDD+ (NDE-REDD+) Central Government Level 1. Secretary, MoEFCC Chairman 2. Addl. Secretary (Climate Change) and Mission Director (GIM) Vice Chairman 3. Additional Director General (FC) Member 4. Joint Secretary (Climate Change) National Focal Point & Member 5. Joint Secretary (Green India Mission) Member 6. DG ICFRE/ Representative of ICFRE Member 7. DG FSI/ Representative of FSI Member 8. Representative of IIFM, Bhopal Member 9. Representative of Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, Bangalore Member 10. Two PCCFs to be nominated by Chairman on rotation basis Members 11. Representative of CII Member 12. Representative of FICCI Member 13. Senior Consultant (REDD+ Cell) Member 14. Deputy Inspector of General (Forests) Member Convener NDE 15. Scientist (Director/Additional Director Grade) Secretary REDD+ Cell 42 lR;eso t;rs National REDD+ Strategy INDIA Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Government of India 2018