Abstract
Forests have significant economic and ecological value as a provider of ecosystem services, being home to much of the world’s biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of many people. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) is a critical component of the overall greenhouse gas emission reductions and now the significance of REDD+ (which is not only about reducing emissions but halting and reversing forest loss), in delivering climate change mitigation benefits along with co-benefits, is increasingly being recognized in global climate negotiations. Northeast India provides a tremendous potential for harnessing REDD+ activities with about 66% of the total geographical area of the region being covered by forests. This paper attempts to explore this potential besides estimating the area available for different options under REDD+ as well as the mitigation potential using COMAP model, overcoming limitations of existing studies or a lack of them. Within this, the status of forests and biodiversity along with drivers of deforestation in north east India are documented and an assessment of the potential for taking up reducing deforestation and degradation and enhancement of carbon stocks and afforestation is conducted both at the state as well as district level. It was found that northeastern states have been experiencing net forest loss during the last few years along with significant scale forest degradation, with Nagaland followed by Arunachal Pradesh offering maximum potential for “reducing deforestation” option under REDD and the total incremental annual mitigation potential of the four REDD+ activities in northeast India being 29.2 MtCO2 for 2030.
Highlights
Emissions from the forest sector, are estimated to be in the range of 0.5 to 2.7 GtC (Giga tonnes of Carbon) during the 1990s, with a mean of about 1.6 GtC
We explore the potential for harnessing REDD+ opportunities for reducing deforestation and degradation, forest conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks in northeast India
It can be concluded that based on the 2005-2007 data published by Forest Survey of India (FSI), significant scale forest degradation is occurring in the northeastern states with 599 sq km of moderately dense forests declining to lower canopy density classes
Summary
Emissions from the forest sector, are estimated to be in the range of 0.5 to 2.7 GtC (Giga tonnes of Carbon) during the 1990s, with a mean of about 1.6 GtC. The Cancun Agreement clearly states that REDD+ is about reducing emissions but halting and reversing forest loss This is important as it emphasizes that REDD+ actions must result in maintaining existing forests and enhancing carbon stocks. The agreement encourages all countries to find effective ways to reduce the anthropogenic pressures on forests that result in greenhouse gas emissions Though this agreement represents a step towards a fully-fledged REDD+ framework, there are important questions left unanswered. There is general agreement on the safeguards (rights of local communities), addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, methodology for monitoring carbon benefits and linking REDD+ with sustainable development and poverty reduction. We explore the potential for harnessing REDD+ opportunities for reducing deforestation and degradation, forest conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks in northeast India
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