Development of Unsaturated Green Cushion for Carbon Absorption

Out of many options to fight with the climate change, development of green cushion through afforestation all over the country with various forestry models viz Agroforestry, Silvi-pastoral culture, Agro-horticulture, community forestry, Farm Forestry, Reserved forests etc is seems to be the important option. Recently, we came to know that the existing tree cover and oceans are saturated to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere. Now, the call for raising new forests/tree covers in the virgin areas like desert in Rajasthan alongwith protection and management of the existing forests/tree covers has emerged. The new areas to be put under tree cover or forest is again an issue that where in India?
Indian eyes seem to be rerouting on deserts regions of the country. A large chunk of desert is lying vacant (without vegetation) having very few population density and about 200mm average annual rainfall. Indian desert is spread over 0.32million Sq KMs area, does not have population pressure but water scarcity is the main problem. Nature provided there the typical vegetation species to survive in the water scarce conditions which are the source of livelihood of the desert communities. Due to continuous exploitation of the so called available vegetation, many precious species of desert like Fog, Rohida (desert teak) etc are now becoming endangered. The exotic species like Accacia tortolis and Prosopis juliflora spreading either sides of “Indira Canal” through various forestry projects developed green coverage in the area but impacting adversely on the desert ecology. The integrated efforts for development of forests with indigenous species and appropriate techniques befitting to the desert area will certainly enhance the desert ecology and increase green cushion of the country and contribute into climate change mitigation in the coming future.

Green Cushion Development in Bundelkhand

The Bundelkhand region is known as rich in its history of bravery, typical culture and social system but very poor in term of economic growth, livelihood options status and development pace. Since independence, the region is being neglected by the policy makers and the planners in considering its particular needs of integrated development which may be due to many reasons but it remains far behind in comparison to the development of other regions.
Bundelkhand region is governs by two states having different priorities of developmental needs may be the one reason amongst many. Degradation of natural resources is the main cause of poverty in the region which upshot into high seasonal migration rate of people in search of their livelihood. Such migration may provide two time food to a person but not the shelters and other basic amenities which he has the right to avail.
Besides the government, many efforts have been made by the other agencies also in the direction of development of the Bundelkhand region and some of them are considerably visible, needs to upscale further to have long term impact in the region to deal with natural resources. An example of development of green cushion in the Bundelkhand region has been created by Indian Farm Forestry Development Cooperative Ltd. (IFFDC) through cooperative model.
In Sagar, Tikamgarh and Chhattarpur districts of Bundelkhand region, 37 Primary Farm Forestry Cooperative Societies have been established with legal status by organising more than 4000 landless, marginal and small farmers and farm women as members in these forestry cooperatives. These members are the stakeholders and endeavouring for conserving the degraded natural resources to develop green cushion in the area. More than 6200 hectares revenue wasteland has been now converted into lush green multipurpose forests with appropriate soil water conservation techniques having more than 38-50 lakh trees by these forestry cooperatives to caters to the needs of fuel wood, fodder, timber and other Non Timber Forest Produces (NTFP) of the rural community on sustainable basis.
The forests being managed by the forestry cooperatives are gradually converting into biodiversity hubs in the region and producing approx 5000 MT grass, reducing soil erosion about 31415 MT and sequestrating 4712 MT Carbon dioxide per year. In addition, It generated 13.53 lakh workdays employment and helped in minimising migration of the rural community.
Such models needs to be replicated and up scaled throughout the region for integrated development of Bundelkhand without considering the political and state boundaries. The Corporates having CSR mandate can contribute towards replication of such models in the areas like Bundelkhand for restoring the fragile ecology and enhance resilience to climate change.