The Recorded Forest Area of India accounts for only 24% of its total surface area.
The Green Credit Rules are given under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The notification was announced on October 12, 2023, and came into effect immediately.
As of date, only Tree plantation initiative has been implemented under Green Credit Programme to support Eco-restoration of degraded Forest lands.
What is a Green Credit Programme?
It is a mechanism to encourage voluntary plantation activity across the country, resulting in award of Green Credits and to build an inventory of degraded land which can be utilized for Afforestation programmes.
Tree Plantation Initiative under GCP:
- The tree plantation Programme is included as an Eco-restoration activity under the Green Credit Programme.
- It is designed to promote activities for increasing the green cover across the country.
- The Forest Department of every State and Union territory identifies degraded land parcels, including open forest and scrub land, wasteland and catchment areas.
- This land parcel will be made available for tree plantation to promote activities for increasing the green cover.
- Green Credits (GCs) are a form of environmental rewards that represent the positive environmental actions awarded to entities who participate in Tree Plantaton initiatives under the Green Credit Programme.
- Green Credit is calculated at the rate of one Green Credit per tree grown.
Objective of the Tree Plantation Initiative under GCP:
It aims to enhance India’s forest and tree cover and to encourage participation of individuals and entities in pro-planet actions by rewarding Green Credits.
Who is eligible to participate?
- Government institutions
- Public Sector Undertakings
- Non-Government Organizations
- Private Companies/Organizations
- Philanthropists
- Individuals or a Group of Individuals registered under Societies Registration Act such as Literary, Scientific, and Charitable Societies.
Criteria for Plantation:
- Type of Land: Only degraded land parcels and areas are suitable for plantation.
- Type of Plant: It includes plantation of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses. The preference shall be given to indigenous species. Also, high quality seedlings are selected for healthy growth of planted species.
- Density of Plantation Block: Plantation block with potential of planting minimum 1100 trees per hectare with 3m X 3m spacing between each of them. The local climatic and soil conditions are also considered.
- Size of Plantation Block: Every plantation block shall be a compact area having a minimum size of 5 hectares.
- Other conditions: Plantation block shall be free from all types of encumbrances.
Significance of Tree Plantation Initiative:
- The Land Inventory will serve the purpose of efficient and sustainable land use management which will allow strategic planning and allocation of areas suitable for afforestation.
- Monitoring and Audit of plantation activity will be carried out regularly.
- Green credits are awarded to the entities who can achieve a minimum 40% canopy density over completion of a minimum of five years of restoration activity.
- These Green Credits issued can be utilized by the entity for accounting within the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework.
- The Green Credit can be used for meeting the compliance of the compensatory afforestation in case of diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
Summary
Article Name
India’s Tree Plantation Initiative: All you need to Know
DescriptionLearn about India’s Tree Plantation Initiative under Green Credit Programme
Author
Team GreenSutra
Publisher Name
GreenSutra
Publisher Logo
