PM council on climate change okays Green India Mission

The Financial Express , Thursday, February 24, 2011
Correspondent :
The Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change has approved the Green India Mission, which targets 5 million hectare improvement in forest and tree cover besides adding another 5 million hectare to existing forest cover.

The mission is one of eight missions comprising the National Action Plan on Climate Change and will involve a investment of Rs 46,000 crore over 10 years.

The decisions that were solicited at the meeting of the ministry of environment and forests and the council on Tuesday included the approval for immediate creation of core mission team and an additional allocation of Rs 300 crore in 2011-12 for preparatory phase. The additional funding can be allocated from the National Clean Energy Fund. Besides, a separate budget head for Green India Mission will be made in 2011-12.

The mission calls for improved ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological services and carbon sequestration as a result of treatment of 10 million hectare, increased forest-based livelihood income for 3 million forest dependent households and enhanced annual CO2 sequestration of 50-60 million tonnes by the year 2020.

With only 2.4% of world’s land area, India accounts for 7-8 % of the recorded plant and animal species of the world.

"India has ten bio-geographic zones and also four global biodiversity hotspots. India is endowed with vast forest resources. The total forest and tree cover of the country is estimated at 23.39% of the geographic area, of which forest cover accounts for 21.02% (69.09 million hectare),” said environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

The reform agenda is conditionality, to be complied with before the agencies access money and this includes the centrality of Gram Sabha for improved forest governance and revamped Forest Development Agencies.

 
SOURCE : http://www.financialexpress.com/news/pm-council-on-climate-change-okays-green-india-mission/753952/0
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us