Joint Forest Management can increase carbon stocks, says Minister

New Delhi, Mar 7 : Minister of State, for Environment and Forests, Namo Narayin Meena, today said that the introducing Forest Management (JFM) in India could increase the productivity of forests, improve the stocking of forests and increase carbon stocks.

"This approach matches well with the objectives of National Environment Policy (NEP) 2006 which emphasize identification of climate change impacts on forests and the need to internalize the adaptations majors in respect to forest management," Meena said while inaugurating a two-day international workshop on Developing Methodology for Assessment of Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks due to Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests, and Increase in Forests Cover.

Meena further explained that there are over 22 million members in over one hundred thousand JFM Committees in India covering 22 million hectares of forest area.

"India acknowledges the seriousness of threat of deforestation and is actively participating in the International efforts to reduce deforestation at global level," Meena said adding that the forest and tree cover in India has been stabilized since 1980s and shows steady improvement since then.

Meena further added that the progressive conservation oriented forest policies and aforestation programmes are contributing to reduction in carbon emission, stabilization and improvement of carbon stocks in forests together with conservation of biodiversity.

The Minister explained that this forestry sector of India is making positive contribution in checking global climate change and in promoting sustainable development.

Referring to Green House Gases (GHG) emissions, Meena said, "The international level deforestation has been taking place at a very alarming rate of 13 million hectares per year. This emission cannot be checked effectively if we do not recognize different policy approaches of conservation, increase in forest cover and reduce deforestation rates simultaneously."

He appealed to work together towards developing a global partnership in making the planet earth a healthier, safer and more productive place than ever before.

Participants from various countries, State Forest Departments and Officials from the Ministry are attending the workshop.

This event is being organised after the Conference of Parties (COP) 13 of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) under the agenda of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in developing countries where India argued for incorporating the concept of "compensated conservation" as a policy approach for compensating countries adopting forest conservation policies and measures.

The workshop is being organised by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education in Dehradun and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

ANI