Special Issue on Afforestation & Reforestation Community Readers’ Forum Forestry After a long time wait I could be able to get a copy of the journal " Community Forestry" . Almost ten years back two editorial staff from RCDC sought my suggestions for improvement of the journal. Fortunately, (Issue-26, October 2012) the contents, coverage and paper quality has been improved, but not the format of the journal. A journal Editorial Address is normally called periodical as it is published in specific periodicity with its Volume. There is no volume of the journal. Because, the authors are asked to cite their work and while citing the paper published it REGIONAL CENTRE FOR lacks the Volume No. Every Journal must have its International Standard Serial Number( ISSN) for which DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION it is called as a journal. A paper published in a journal without ISSN number is not considered as a A/68, 1st Floor scientific paper. Because the author does not get any mark for the paper published by him. There are Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar -7 Odisha, India. journals called 'Peer Reviewed Journal'/ 'Impact factor Journal'. As per UGC norm a scholar publishing a Tel: 91-674-2545250 paper in an international peer review journal get 25 marks and in a national journal 15 marks for his Fax: 91-674-2545252 career advancement. Hence, I suggest to get ISSN Number for your journal . Another thing is that you can ask your contributors to standardize the paper for your journal. There must be uniform standard E-mail: referencing system of the papers. I wish that the 'Community Forestry' should be shaped the name of a [email protected] good journal and available in special libraries for special user groups. [email protected] With best regards, URL Dr. Rabindra K. Mahapatra www.rcdcindia.org Chief Librarian www.banajata.org Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology Editor-in-Chief Bhubaneswar - 751003 Kailash Ch. Dash On behalf of RCDC I thank you very much for your touching and constructive feedback. In fact such Thematic Editor dynamic and concrete suggestions from our readers are our assets. Bikash Rath We agree with your concerns and suggestions. However, we would like to share some issues that a Layout & Design volunteer organization like RCDC faces in publishing such periodicals without any commercial interest Ramakrishna Maharana and without any specific funding support. It is very difficult to maintain the periodicity and quality of the Bhagyarathi Sahoo journal due to want of funds and relevant articles. There are financial implications in respect of postage charged in case you mention the month of publication. Still, going for ISSN No. and other improvements Please feel free to use, reproduce or translate materials from are already under our consideration, and we shall be encouraged with your technical inputs/comments Community Forestry with due regarding the thematic coverage too. -Ed. respect to the self esteem of the forest protecting communities and acknowledgement to the author(s), RCDC and the source. We will appreciate receipt of a copy. CONTENTS The opinions expressed in COVER STORY 'Community Forestry' do not necessarily reflect those of Ä Whither A/R CDM ? 04 Regional Centre for Development Cooperation. CURRENT ISSUE RCDC and the editorial team Ä Eucalyptus revisited 32 appointed by it for its periodical(s) do not endorse any unfair/unlawful allegations made against any LAW & POLICY individual/organization while allowing critiques or articles of Ä Defining ‘forest’ 35 similar nature in public interest. Readers are welcome to share their grievances(if any) in case they find ROLE MODELS one or more of the facts presented in the articles do not reflect the Ä Community initiatives in mangrove conservation 40 reality in its totality or are otherwise erroneous . CONSERVATION Regd. Office Ä Rights for resource cause : A case of Siarimalia 42

ECO-COMMERCE Ä The CDM Market 46

Regional Centre for LIVELIHOOD Development Cooperation Ä Indigenous health practices of the Mankidias 49 424, Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar-751 007 EMERGING TRENDS Odisha, India Ä Making Eucalyptus Eco-friendly: The ITC Way 54 Tel: 91-674-2547585 91-674-2547897 Fax: 91-674-2545252 NEWS & EVENTS E-mail: [email protected] Ä State Gears up for Massive Afforestation 61

FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY Cover photo : A degraded hillock near Nabarangpur under afforestation

2 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 EDITORIAL NOTE

Editorial This special issue of Community Forestry covers three quarters: January-March, April-June and July-September. This combined issue focuses on some important dynamics relating to afforestation & deforestation: A/R CDM; definition of forest, afforestation & deforestation; and the major species ? used in afforestation, etc. . The 'cover story' in fact is a special report based on RCDC's recent research on A/R CDM in Odisha; a part of this research report has been published under this column with some modifications and updates. Although the size of this report is much beyond the requirement under a 'story', we hope that importance will rather be attached to the content than the size, particularly because of the research value of the same. Two columns in this issue cover some aspects of the major species selected under afforestation projects, more particularly under the A/R CDM, i.e. Eucalyptus. In fact, 'Eucalyptus revisited' is in a way supplementary to the article 'Making Eucalyptus Eco-friendly: The ITC Way' though it appears first because of sequential preferences of this periodical. However, we clarify here that none of these two articles should imply that RCDC wants to promote Eucalyptus. What this editor actually intends is to help our readers judiciously understand some of the real dynamics of the species and the plantations based on it so as to get convinced why plantations of indigenous species are still better and preferable (even in that case the choice of species is important based on the local ecology and socio- economic requirements). Simply condemning Eucalyptus blindly can never be the right approach, and the emerging trend of rectifying an error by modifying the roots of the species so as to prevent it from reaching the ground water table, and by promoting products such as Eucalyptus honey are definitely a welcome move. However, needless to say, such initiatives in no way convince us that Eucalyptus is preferable; rather they indicate that if you already have Eucalyptus or have no other viable option than this species then you can reduce the concerned ecological risks and increase the scope of making optimum use of the plantation through such methods.

Other regular columns also cover certain interesting issues though not exactly related to afforestation & deforestation. But one can still relate them to the focused topic of this issue in the way that it seems quite contradictory that the concerned Department/government agency on one hand fails to protect & conserve the existing resources such as bamboo, and on the other hand makes huge targets for plantations, that too when the survival rates of saplings planted and the investments versus achievements in the plantation projects are still questionable though we can definitely congratulate the Department for some of its successful plantations. The government has allowed cutting of mature trees along the road sides for expansion of National Highways or other such projects, and all these after the devastation of the supercyclone of 1999; but what is the action and achievement in restoring the lost ecological asset? In fact, the ground realities are so frustrating that big statistics and projections can not convince or satisfy the people. One can therefore definitely ask if the actual intension behind afforestation projects is a vested interest (though the plea is ecological restoration and socioeconomic welfare). Implementation of CAMPA is still a suspicious matter and the Forest Department is fully responsible for that. Interestingly, the Departmental headquarters was recently approached under RTI to provide certain information under CAMPA, but instead of doing it itself they just forwarded the application to divisional offices. If that means that the headquarters doesn't have consolidated information, then this is a highly questionable matter indeed. MGNREGS does provide a scope for a community-controlled plantation activity suitable for their own purpose, but that scope is yet to be utilized properly. In such a situation, initiatives by individuals and/or communities that have silently and humbly made successful plantations without the kind of investments that the government agencies would have preferred to project, are like an oasis in the desert. If the Forest Department can make proper use of this community potential, and can duly honour such initiatives (we don't mean just giving an award, but to be guided in practice by such initiatives) then restoration of the lost greenery and biodiversity would be largely possible in the state. It is high time that instead of going for mere formalities like Vana Mahotshav and drawing competitions among students, the Department should come out with a serious plan with participatory implementation & monitoring process so as to harness this potential. ² Bikash Rath Sr. Programme Manager Regional Centre for Development Cooperation

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 3 COVER STORY

Whither A/R CDM ?

There have been several programmes that will spiritually benefit the person the carbon money. What is alarming is funded and/or implemented by who raises/promotes the plantations in that most of these plantations are raised government and private agencies for public interest or larger interest. The in private lands changing the land use, raising plantations that will rehabilitate Vastu sashtras advised certain specific and the ecological impacts thereof degraded lands or deforested areas norms so as to make the plantations alongwith long-term socio-economic while taking care of the livelihood truly beneficial for the people and to impacts like endangered food security needs, or will provide a source of avoid the subtle adverse effects are a matter of concern. income to the people through (current science also speaks of the horticultural products or medicinal allelopathic effects of various plant Paper industries in India, alongwith plants, or would otherwise be useful to species). Bamboo plantations were some other industries have been the the local ecology and/or communities. raised for defense purpose as pioneers of promoting such However, plantations for CDM(clean consolidated natural barricades which plantations. The Paper industry in development mechanism) and the vice would be difficult to penetrate than the India is expected to see an average versa is relatively a new concept of the trees. In all these cases however the growth of 7 per cent during the 2012- recent decades which is known as add on dimensions were beyond 13 according to prediction by the afforestation/reforestation CDM or A/ material gains/profits, and indicated a Indian Pulp and Paper Technical R CDM, and this concept essentially higher mode of ultimate achievement. Association (IPPTA). From about Rs identifies itself with a totally new Unfortunately, the so-called clean 30,000 crore size turnover in 2011- dimension of market-based and development mechanism makes use of 12, the industry is likely to touch corporate-centric value system, i.e. the the plea of greater interest of humanity 60,000 mark by 2025. With such a carbon trading or as some analysts in terms of carbon sequestration, and voracious target the paper & pulp would like to see it more critically, the seems to ultimately aim at a malicious industry not only implies to a carbon capitalism. This new dimension personal/private gain that not only substantially higher requirement of recognizes that the owner of the fetches money but also helps get the raw material but also a higher carbon plantation contributes to the global recognition of complying with the - and ecological footprint, despite their effort of reducing carbon emissions, as norms of pollution control though the modernization1. The so-called farm discussed under the Kyoto Protocol actual practice may be otherwise. forestry however offers them a multi- and subsequently specified/elaborated advantageous solution to all these further through other declarations Plantations of eucalyptus and other issues: it ensures their raw material, and and/or agreements; and is hence such fast growing species have been at the same time serves as a carbon entitled for a special financial incentive promoted by some corporate bodies sink(thereby earning carbon revenue). against that. primarily to secure their own stake in International Finance Corporation, several ways. Linking with CDM makes which has been promoting this kind of Ancient value systems on plantations these plantations a three-in-one system farm forestry in India in partnership also had dimensions beyond monetary which provides the raw material to the with the paper industries, estimated or other such worldly profits. Indian industry, gets recognition for that while "the farm forestry tradition saw this as a pious activity environmental protection, and fetches operations of IFC's pulp and paper

1 For instance, a survey by the Centre for Science & Environment towards 2009 found that specific emissions of CO from the surveyed industries were 2.5 MT CO / 2 2 ADt paper which was several times higher than the OECD average of 0.7 MT CO /ADt(CSE, undated). 2

4 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY investment clients account for 25%- have to recognize the fact that it is quite Brajarajnagar and Titagurh Paper Mill, 50% of added income for 1,70,000 obvious for them to secure their Choudwar have been permanently poor farmers", the "Carbon business interest, and if their plans and closed down since many years. Sequestration associated with these promotional activities (pulpwood investments was estimated at 2 million plantations in this particular case) are JK Paper at Rayagada and Ballarpur tCO2 in 2007 and is expected to threatening our land use pattern, food Industries-SEWA paper mill at Jeypore increase to 3.5 million tCO2 by security, and ecosystem balance then are presently the two major paper & 2010"(Devex, 2012). that is chiefly because we don't have a pulp manufacturing units in the state. vision and effective policy framework These are forest-based units having a The CSE survey(2009) found that the in the country to check such disorders. capacity of 75000 TPA for BILT Indian paper industry used about 0.25 Whatever laws are there, the (2004) and 125000 TPA for JKPL million hectares of 'degraded'(?) land government has not been sincere (2011). However, JKPL was planning belonging to marginal farmers to raise enough to implement them properly; to increase its capacity to 2.4 lakh such farm forestry. The 8 industries it rather the practice has often been to tonnes per annum(The Financial surveyed, were found to have a subdue the protecting provisions in one Express, 2004; The Hindu, 2011). forestry-based carbon sequestration way or the other for political and ranging from 0.3 MT CO2/ADt to 9.2 corporate interest. However, the The detail of the mills along with their MT CO2/ADt which helped three of implications of the large scale land use raw material consumption pattern as them(including JK Paper which had changes the paper mills and other such estimated in the State of Environment the lowest negative footprint) negative corporate houses have induced have Report-Orissa in 2006 is in Table-1: carbon footprints(CSE, undated). naturally raised apprehensions of Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills recorded various negative impacts in the long The major raw materials used by the highest negative net specific CO2 term. As we will see later, the claim paper mills in Odisha are eucalyptus, emission. often made by these industries that casuarina, bamboo, sugarcane bagasse 'their'(i.e. on their behalf or by them) and waste papers and cardboards, etc. ITC's paper mill at Bhadrachalam has plantations were promoted on been the national pioneer among the 'degraded' lands are not much reliable Table-2 gives an idea of the increasing paper & pulp industry in India in as evident from several field in demand (in MT) of bamboo in the carbon sequestration initiatives. In assessments and secondary inferences. state between 1991 and 2001: 2003-04 the mill emitted about 1013 In short, we can begin our detail Kilo ton of CO against a carbon discussion with a statement that such During early '90s, the adopted 2 sequestration capacity of only 311 plantations are usually not so innocent proportion of raw material to paper Kton. However, through technological and fair in respect of the actual interest was 2.5:1. However, practically it upgradations and plantations it claims behind them, the net benefit to the varies for different situations (Rath, to have substantially reversed the actual land owner, and the ultimate 20051). position by 2008-09 when the carbon impact on the local ecosystem. sequestration exceeded(3695 Kton) In case of naturally dry bamboo having the emission(1572 Kton)(ITC, 2009). Pulp and Paper Mills' around 20% moisture content, the raw scenario in Odisha materials to paper output ratio is While the claims of being carbon Odisha, because of its huge bamboo 3.67:1. When this bamboo is machine neutral or negative can be debatable2, resources, has been an attraction for dried, it is called bone-dry (BD) the initiatives of the paper & pulp paper & pulp industries since the bamboo and the paper output ratio industry to reduce their pollution level colonial period. The oldest paper mills becomes 2.2:1. Though paper mills are definitely praise-worthy. We also of the state, Orient Paper Mill, used wood as one of the key raw

2 See, for example, the discovery by the Rainforest Action Network that the Asia Pulp & Paper company of Indonesia was not actually carbon neutral despite an international certification(http://ran.org/asia-pulp-papers-hidden-emissions ).

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 5 COVER STORY

Table-1: Capacity versus raw material consumption of paper mills Raw Material Consumption Production (ton/day) Sl. Name of the Industry Capacity Wood, (Ton/Day) Straw Waste Paper Bamboo 1. J.K. Paper Mill, Rayagada 300 800 -- -- 2. Emami Paper Mill, Balasore 1003 1 40 130 3. SPA Straw Board, Titlagarh 20 4. COSBOARD Industries, Jagatpur 30 -- -- 65 5. BILT (SEWA), Jeypore 240 650 -- -- 6. JB Agro Industries, Kalahandi 20 16 1.0 (Pulp) Total 730 1467 40 196 (Source: SPCB, 2006) Table-2: Increasing demand of bamboo Demand by utilization pattern 1991 1996 2001 decreasing over the period of time due (lakh MT) to several related reasons like price, Domestic use 2.08142 2.6 2.29465 availability, management policy etc. Paper pulp 2.6 2.48842 2.6 Long-term leases were granted to the Total 4.68142 4.89465 5.08842 paper mills till 1st October 1988, when (Source: Govt of Odisha: Forest Department, Orissa Forest 1999, p.33) the forest bamboo was nationalized to be harvested and marketed by the state materials, the ratio of bamboo and paper industry to use 100% hardwood and its agency. Even after that, 98 wood was about 90:10 but due to as the raw material, thus completely percent of bamboo, extracted from the shortage of raw materials, during late eliminating, in principle atleast, the state forests, was supplied to paper '90s4, the ratio of bamboo to hardwood scope of using bamboo (Rath, 2005 ). mills. Around 2 lakh MT of bamboo is 1 changed to 50:50 in some paper mills harvested every year in Odisha and of and by 2003, it changed to 20:80 in Bamboo as a source of pulp this about 50,000 MT is produced from cases like JK Paper(Rath, 2005 ). Bamboo is one of the most abundantly private lands. In India, for most of the 1 available and rapidly renewable forest bamboo forests, the prescribed cutting Bamboo was advantageous because of resources of Odisha spread over cycle is kept at 3 or 4 years(OBDA, its long fibres as against the short fibres around 30% of the total forest area of undated;Rath, 2005 ). 1 of hardwood, but in 1998, JK Paper the state. Around 9% of the total Ltd. adopted, for the first time in India, bamboo forest cover of India and 7% The paper mills project that the cost of the RDH(Rapid Displacement Heating) of growing stock is present in Odisha. forest bamboo traded by the technology which claimed to solve the The major use of bamboo extracted government is significantly higher than short-fibre problem of hardwood. from the forest is for industrial use and that of plantation wood. On the other Brought from Germany, this in particular, the pulp and paper hand, forest bamboo is supposed to technology was expected to enable the industries. However this trend is have a higher silica content that causes

3 As revealed on the company's website, Emami has planned to install a bamboo/wood pulp mill with production capacity of 1.5 lakh tons/annum (http:// www.emamipaper.in/chairmans-desk.html , accessed 8-8-12). Its plantation promotion programme can be linked with this decision.

4 The planning versus practice has been quoted in FAO(undated) as under: "In percentage terms, bamboo pulp maintained its position as the most important fibrous raw material throughout all the planning periods, although it showed a slightly declining trend. Agricultural residues accounted for 20 percent of the total fibre furnish 30 years ago, but this was decreased to 12 percent in the 1974-1978 five- year plan. Wood pulp, on the other hand, was not used at all until the 1960s. In the 1969-1974 planning period, its share was forecast to rise up to 19 percent. It seems, however, that the supply of hardwoods did not meet the expectations for that period and, accordingly, for the planning period 1974-1978 it was put as low as 10 percent. As for waste paper, the planned use has been fairly constant, between 8 and 10 percent, except in the period 1969-1974, when it was as low as 3 percent."

6 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY technical problems, the lower the silica JKPL's arguments have been hectare, is about 8 cubic metres content the lower is the risk of supported by some ground realities (cu.m.), though has been known to pollution. Hence, paper mills are though this may not be the whole side reach as much as 40 cu.m, while for interested for developing low-silica of the truth. A number of potential indigenous trees, the average is 0.50 bamboo through R&D. Otherwise, bamboo production areas of the state cu.m. (Lawbuary, undated). bamboo as a source of paper pulp has are now under the sanctuaries where been qualitatively quite advantageous commercial extraction has been Eucalyptus hybrid is the preferred in its fibrous- and other properties banned. There are other complexities species for plantations now. It can be a (Andtbacka, 2004). like rights of the local communities, etc. combination to E. tereticornis and E. which the paper mills are not grandis /E. urphaylla/ E. camaldulensis Interestingly, JKPL in its presentation5 comfortable with, particularly when (NABARD,2007). For instance, in the ‘National Consultation on they find that the local demand against Mangalam Timber Products Limited Corporate Initiatives in Developing the this stake varies from place to place. has used the hybrid of E. tereticornis NTFP Sector: Scope & Strategies’, However, with due respect to all and E. camaldulensis, as per their organized by RCDC on 14th March genuine concerns of the company it is Project Design Document(sub-section 2012 at Bhubaneswar, shared a quite still not understood why it prioritized A.5.3) submitted for CDM. different perspective that seems fast growing pulpwood species like important in context of the discussion Eucalyptus in farm forestry, and why Apart from bamboo and Eucalyptus, of this report. The company's not the preferable species of bamboo? other raw materials used are Casuarina, representative said that the official There are many other issues which we Acacia, Subabool, Sugarcane bagasse availability/production of bamboo in will discuss in a subsequent section. and waste paper. The demand of raw the state has been reduced to such an material is met (supplied) from both extent that the present supply to the Eucalyptus: taking on Odisha and other states. two bamboo-consuming paper mills bamboo has been insufficient, thereby forcing First introduced to India in 1843 as Total area planted by J.K Paper mill the mills to go for options such as farm Eucalyptus globulus in the Nilgiri Hills, for year 2010-11 is reported to be forestry. As he explained, reduced as an experiment to find high yielding 37000 acres and each acre produces volume of supply alongwith scattered species for fuel and timber (quoted nearly 30-35 MT of raw material. availability and poor quality is adding from Penfold and Willis, 1961), this BILT-Sewa paper mill is expected to to the operational cost. He said the mills genus became a favoured one of the promote plantation in 26000 acres. require sufficient supply of bamboo to colonial rulers. However, after trials on Emami paper mill has also entered in be sourced within a distance of 200 the Mysore Plateau, E.tereticornis was the field, and has started promoting km which will help reducing not only found to be more productive, and the chiefly Eucalyptus on private lands. the transportation cost but also the hybrid became the most popular carbon foot print(lesser fuel burning). choice for afforestation(Lawbuary, Captive plantations versus Further, the quality of bamboo which undated). private plantations the mills seek, i.e. high solid matter per Almost all the pulpwood and wood unit of cross-sectional area (solid In case of Eucalyptus, total biomass based industries like JK Paper Mills, bamboo, e.g. Bambusa balcoa of produced in one year is greater than Rayagada, Ballarpur Industries North East India and Chusquea of many of the slower growing native Ltd(BILT, Sewa), Jeypore or Chile & Brazil) with low silica content species. As claimed by Prabhakar Mangalam Timber Products Ltd, is hardly available in the state. (1998), on eight year rotation, the Nabarangpur all depend chiefly on mean annual growth of Eucalyptus per private farmers engaged in plantation.

5 The presentation titled 'Bamboo As Paper Industry Raw Material in Odisha: Status and Options' was presented by Mr. Sushil Gaikwad, Sr. Manager(Forest), JKPL, Rayagada.

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 7 COVER STORY

They usually do not prefer contract Eucalyptus for the industrial purposes models need to be developed with due farming even though in a way farmers at the cost of food security. care to such concerns because raise plantations for them informally. chemical impact of the leachates of The limitation that forces these Socio-economic and envi- various parts of E.citriodora, E. industries to depend on private ronmental impact of pulp globules, and E.tereticornis have been plantations has been explained in the wood based paper industries found to inhibit the growth of some following statement of Harsh Pati The paper industries have been crops like greengram, blackgram, rice, Singhania of JK Paper Ltd. which he claiming of substantial economic and tomato (Paramathma et al, 2000). gave in December 2010: benefits for farmers from pulpwood plantations promoted by them. The CDM is a concept that ideally proposes "Raw material is the single-biggest economics of plantation that they to ensure both environmental and challenge. In India, you are not allowed provide suggests a net profit of around economic benefits from plantations, in captive plantations and we do not have Rs.30,000/- per acre on the 4th year addition to the conventional benefits a policy for industrial plantations for of the plantation with additional enjoyed. pulp wood. Therefore, we have to income in the subsequent cuttings. resort to the farmers. The limitations CDM (Clean Development for us are that farmers have limited Pulpwood plantations, as paper mills Mechanism) farm holdings that are scattered; so claim, not only help rehabilitate The impact of climate change will be efficiency and cost remain a factor. degraded lands and reduce pressure on felt immediately in the country having Brazil and Indonesia have developed forests, but also work as carbon sinks. less convergent economic growth and large-scale sustainable man-made However, the plantation crop that is politically most unstable. It is clear that forests/plantations that are in the radius actually adopted consists of the species it is not possible to mitigate climate of mills, which means lower cost, that are either not supposed to be change unless we address the poverty better management of plantations and ecologically justified because of their of those who are least responsible but much higher yields. "(The Financial individual ecological characters, or are will be hardest hit. To address this, Express, 2010)” found to be incompatible with the local CDM at ideology level is linked with indigenous biodiversity. What is more poverty saying that mitigation and He further went on to say that, important here is that Eucalyptus, the adaptation need to be integrated into they(JKPL) had already planted about chief of the species promoted by the developmental projects to benefit rural 75,000 hectares of land all over India mills, has been known for its dubious and urban poor in a developing and were increasing the cover characteristics like adverse impacts on country such as India, and the carbon @4000-5000 hectares per year. the ground water table. That a finance business including CDM and technology known as the Root Trainer VCS6 providing thereby an The exact area under pulpwood Technology had to be developed so as opportunity to enhance livelihoods of plantations in Odisha could not be to limit the length of the hybrid/clonal resource poor communities while ascertained. However, these Eucalyptus to 3 meters so that it doesn't contributing to global environmental plantations exist in both coastal and touch the ground water table, is an benefits (see inbox). other adjoining districts. Farmers are indication in itself that adverse impacts told that they will gain substantially of the original species on the ground Forest acts as a big carbon sink having from this in comparison to water table has not to be ignored. Even immense potential of carbon mitigation conventional crops like rice, and are if this technology helps solve this through the carbon sequestration then provided with clonal seedlings. So, problem, the allelopathic impacts of process. On 11 December 1997 the there is a looming danger that people Eucalyptus still continues to be a Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, could divert many of their productive matter of concern, and even the Japan, and entered into force on 16 cultivable land to the plantation of Eucalyptus-based agro-forestry February 2005. The Clean Develop-

6 Voluntary carbon standard(credit), a system working parallel to and quite similar to CDM with a difference that being voluntary it has a relatively poor legal- and market stand than CDM. More details available at http://www.allens.com.au/pubs/cc/foccsep08.htm.

8 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

CDM and sustainable development "The CDM projects should also be oriented towards improving the quality of life of the poor from the environmental standpoint. Following aspects should be considered while designing CDM project activity: 1. Social well being: The CDM project activity should lead to alleviation of poverty by generating additional employ- ment, removal of social disparities and contribution to provision of basic amenities to people leading to improvement in quality of life of people. 2. Economic well being: The CDM project activity should bring in additional investment consistent with the needs of the people. 3. Environmental well being: This should include a discussion of impact of the project activity on resource sustainability and resource degradation, if any, due to proposed activity; bio-diversity friendliness; impact on human health; reduc- tion of levels of pollution in general; 4. Technological well being: The CDM project activity should lead to transfer of environmentally safe and sound tech- nologies that are comparable to best practices in order to assist in upgradation of the technological base. The transfer of technology can be within the country as well from other developing countries also. (Source: National CDM Authority 2009, http://www.cdmindia.gov.in/approval_process.php)

ment Mechanism (CDM) was intro- kilotonnes of CO2 per year and are CDM in India duced to implement carbon reduction developed or implemented by low- India has the high potential of realizing and sink projects under the Kyoto income communities and individuals carbon credits to capture more than Protocol. Afforestation and Refore- as determined by the host Party. If a 10% of Global CDM market at station (A/R) CDM projects intend to small-scale afforestation or refore- estimated annual revenue ranging generate forestry carbon credits. In station project activity under the CDM from US$10 million to 330 million. addition to projects in the industrial results in net anthropogenic green- Some of the attributes which are and energy sectors, A/R CDM sector house gas removals by sinks greater working in favour of the India are the claims to offer a mix of carbon and than 16 kilotonnes of CO2 per year, wide spectrum of projects with sustainable development benefits. the excess removals will not be eligible different sizes, vast technical human for the issuance of tCERs or lCERs" resource, strong industrial base and Basically CDM could be implemented (http://cdm.unfccc.int/about/ relatively speedy processing by Indian in two different ways : 1. Technologi- limitations/index.html ). DNA (NCDMA) for host country cal innovations/modifications that help approval(Bhaskaran and Narayanan, reduce the emission and/or reduce raw The UNFCCC FAQ however mentions undated; Singh, J.K., undated). material consumption, etc.; and that any project activities other than Moreover India went on to become 2. Plantations that can work as carbon those focusing on renewable energy or one of the first CDM countries to have sinks. Plantations can be done either energy efficiency, that result in a baseline in place for CO emissions 2 purely as a carbon sink or as a source emission reductions of less than or from the Power Sector. As has been of raw material that can also work as a equal to 60 kilotonnes of carbon indicated by CDM-Watch, the carbon sink. dioxide equivalent annually are treated number of projects registered under as small scale projects whereas any CDM is not insignificant in the country According to UNFCCC, "Small-scale CDM project activity not possessing the though it is also true that in comparison afforestation and reforestation project above mentioned characteristics is to the actual potential this is not large activities under the CDM" are those considered a large-scale CDM project enough. In fact, UNFCCC data quoted that are expected to result in net activity (https://cdm.unfccc.int/faq/ in a joint study and analysis by anthropogenic greenhouse gas index.html ). NFFPFW, NESPON, and DISHA on removals by sinks of less than 16 Indian CDM suggests that by May

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 9 COVER STORY

2011, India had about 26% of the for example, the need for sound biodiversity and sustainable use of world's total number of CDM projects science and consistent methodologies, natural resources". We will see later with Tamilnadu, Maharastra, and as well as the importance of conserving how this principle was ignored in Karnataka having the highest No. of biodiversity. They also specify that approving the CDM project of Veda CDM projects in the country. Gujurat naturally-occurring removals, Climate Change Solutions Ltd.(VCCSL) recorded the highest CER issued(about including removals as a consequence and JK Paper. 44.26% of the country total), and wind of indirect anthropogenic effects, energy accounted for the largest should be excluded from the system Plantation-based Clean sector(33.62%) in Indian CDM. and that any re-release of greenhouse Development Mechanism gases (e.g. through forest fires) must be In an attempt to bring convergence of Land Use, Land Use Change, promptly accounted for (UNFCCC, various initiatives taken by the and Forestry (LULUCF) 2012). government and non-government As it is acknowledged that about one organizations for elimination of quarter of all the increase in free carbon The LULUCF activities include: poverty and to achieve Millennium dioxide derives from land use changes • Afforestation Development Goal (MDGs), there has (essentially deforestation) (Skutsch, • Reforestation been proposed projects of plantation 2004), UNFCCC also considers Land • Forest management; taken up by the industries and various Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry • Cropland management; other agencies to address poverty by (LULUCF) projects under carbon • Grazing land management; and focusing on small and marginal farmers financing with a belief that activities in • Revegetation (UNFCC, 2012). who could be linked to ongoing the LULUCF sector "can provide a programmes of Central and State relatively cost-effective way of Concerns and criticism have been Government, Development organi- offsetting emissions, either by raised over the scope, practice, and zation and financial institutions. increasing the removals of greenhouse implications of LULUCF. And these are gases from the atmosphere (e.g. by obvious. For instance, the way 'forest' The plantation activities are supposed/ planting trees or managing forests), or has been defined (vide the discussion claimed to generate additional income by reducing emissions (e.g. by curbing on page no. 35) in this Accord, the stemming from carbon sequestration deforestation). However, there are essential attributes of forest as an through the improvement in land use drawbacks as it may often be difficult ecosystem as well as a biodiversity base and land use practices and thereby to estimate greenhouse gas removals have totally been ignored thereby increasing the revenues. The choice of and emissions resulting from activities creating scope that plantations that are species differs according to the project of LULUCF. In addition, greenhouse devoid of such attributes can also be objectives: the Forest Department may gases may be unintentionally released considered as 'forest'. Further, its prefer commercially valuable (for into the atmosphere if a sink is damaged affirmation that all LULUCF activities timber) species like teak in a reserve or destroyed through a forest fire or must be based on 'sound science' limits forest while firewood species in social disease"(UNFCCC, 2012). the scope to include indigenous forestry. NGOs have suggested community forestry and other such plantations of important non-timber LULUCF activities are related to activities of land use management that species under the Mahatma Gandhi articles 3.3 and 3.4 of the Kyoto are environmentally important but National Rural Employment Protocol. The rules for LULUCF not based on a 'sound science'. Guarantee Scheme. The industries activities have been agreed as part of have usually preferred fast growing the Marrakesh Accords, the principles However, this Accord also affirms that species as a part of their environmental of which attempt to respond to one of the principles governing compliance, and pulp & paper concerns that the use of LULUCF LULUCF activities should be that "the industries have focused specifically on activities should not undermine the implementation of land use, land-use the pulpwood species. environmental integrity of the Kyoto change and forestry activities Protocol. These principles underscore, contributes to the conservation of

10 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

However, only a small part of the when huge quantity of bamboo got reported no large scale project but two existing forests and plantations have rotten in OFDC depots due to non- small scale projects of A/R in the been registered as a part of CDM or lifting by the paper mills. Finally, the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, REDD+. The NFFPFW study of the government had to yield to this and of these two projects one is a Indian CDM sector suggested that pressure. However, it was also a reality multi-state project covering the forestry CDM projects accounted for that ensuring the quantity of pulpwood Koraput, Kalahandi, and Rayagada only 0.56% of Indian CDM in May they required was not so easy. Hence, districts of Odisha and Srikakulum, 2011. The international position was even though the industries tried to Vishakhapatanam, and Vizianagaram also not quite different even after a year increase the area under pulpwood districts of Andhra Pradesh. This multi- as by 1st May 2012 out of the total plantations, dependency on bamboo state project has been proposed jointly 8416 CDM projects in the world only still continues. by Veda Climate Change Solutions Ltd. 65 (0.77%) were on afforestation & and JK Paper Ltd.. reforestation sharing a CER of Though the exact assessment has been 2941(0.25%) only out of the total difficult to be sourced, according to As of any A/R CDM project by BILT, 1168229, as reported by CDM M/S VCCSL, about 600 hectares of Project Design Documents(PDDs) of Pipeline in its website. eucalyptus plantations in Odisha have both JK and Mangalam Timber been considered under CDM by July Products Limited confirm that till 2011 In Odisha, the adopted species for 2011 (personal communication with its plantation activities were not linked carbon sink plantation has been RCDC representatives). Interestingly, to CDM or carbon financing. On the primarily Eucalyptus chiefly because the NCDMA website as on 18th May other hand, Mangalam Timber has the paper mills promoted this to secure 2012 reported that out of the total 16 engaged itself in a multi-state their raw material supply. Although A/R CDM projects in the country not plantation-based CDM activity. they may(like, JKPL) show bamboo as a single one belonged to the state of one of the species for which they offer Odisha, neither large scale nor small Very recently, the Directorate of support but in practice, they prioritize scale. On the other hand, it also Horticulture, Government of Odisha Eucalyptus because of its fast growth rate and bamboo is otherwise Stakeholder Consultation Meeting for AR CDM Project available from forests and private Subject : Arranging CERs through CDM over Mango/Cashew/In- lands.. However, ITC's PSPD unit, dian Gooseberry plantations. which so far has no Eucalyptus plantation in Odisha, is considering Odisha Horticulture Development Society, Udyan Bhawan, Nayapalli, bamboo plantation in about 2500 Bhubaneswar is planning to develop Afforestation/Reforestation Clean Devel- hectares of land of the state(source: Dr. opment Mechanism (A/R CDM) project activity for Horticulture plantation in H.D.Kulkarni, personal communi- different districts of Odisha. The prime objective of the project activity is for cation). Restoration of the degraded and unproductive lands through Horticulture Plan- tation involving effective Horticulture techniques. The proposed activity en- The paper mills consider Eucalyptus visages reducing environmental degradation, alleviating poverty and carbon more economical than bamboo. On sequestration to combat against climate change. this basis the mills also in a way I would like to invite all relevant stakeholders to provide their valuable sugges- blackmailed the Odisha Forest tions on the project design including Social & Environmental impacts. This will Development Corporation(OFDC), help us in improving the project design basing on the suggestion of local stake- which sells them forest bamboo on holders. XXX behalf of the government, that unless the price is within the range (This invitation seems to have been issued by the Director, Horticulture-Ed.) acceptable by them they would not procure forest bamboo. This resulted (Source: http://www.orihort.in/Download/stakeholder.pdf , accessed on 8-8-2012) in a standstill situation in early 2000

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 11 COVER STORY has proposed the farmers of the state been kept in dark by the government, are however ignored totally when to go for horticulture-based A/R CDM what is still appreciable is that it making the cost-benefit analysis of plantations in degraded lands. In encourages for non-Eucalyptus based pulpwood plantations, and this makes principle this is definitely a good and A/R CDM in 'degraded lands' though the claim of high returns at low viable eco-friendly alternative (if the only three horticultural species have investment a superficial one. species are accordingly selected and been identified and one of them, the farmers' rights are safeguarded by cashew, has its own controversy. Environmental impact- the government) that can have atleast Carbon sequestration some direct or indirect contributions Carbon trade off advantage Release and absorption of green house to food security and effective use of As understood from the local paper gases like carbon dioxide and methane degraded lands. The Directorate of mills the carbon revenue share for plays an important role in the Horticulture published on its website a farmers in the A/R CDM is about ecosystem. Storing large quantities of public notice for stakeholders Rs.150-200/ per ton. It is not included carbon in living vegetation and soils consultation on horticulture-based in the normal plantation Benefit-Cost leads to significant global carbon sink. A/R CDM. A part of the web-notice analysis, and would add Rs.5000- Plants remove CO from the air and 2 has been reproduced here, but the 7000/- extra per acre. convert it into sugars (carbon version published in the newspaper compound) that is required for their specified the stakeholders to be The plantation crops in hilly lands with growth and development. CO 2 farmers. The consultation was to be unsecured irrigation and rainfed derived products such as lignin and done at three places in the state: situation have certain advantages over cellulose constitutes the body part of Khurdha, Berhampur, and Sambalpur conventional crops. Combined with the plants and exist in large quantities which seems inadequate and unevenly Carbon Revenue of Rs.5000-7000/- in woody tissues of trees and shrubs. distributed. per acre, the pulp wood plantation Hence, as long as these plants are alive program apparently seems to be a and growing, they actively remove In early August this year we had highly remunerative and environ- carbon from the air around them requested the concerned directorate, mentally responsible initiative. which is called carbon sequestration by through an e-mail, for clarifications on the plants. the following points: However, in practice such an advantage has hardly materialized, as Forests and plantations therefore work 1. Will it be a direct contract we will discuss later. For tribal areas as natural factories that use CO2 in the between the farmer and the the loss may be in terms of food & atmosphere as a raw material and UNFCCC/World Bank? If not, nutritional security, alongwith a halting covert the same into safe and useful who would be the other parties period of 4 years or so. Conventional elements. And the invisible but highly in the agreement? hill crops consist of various millets that valuable product in this process is 2. To what extent the role of the provide food & nutritional security to oxygen. All this takes place in an eco- Directorate of Horticulture is the framers. The income from friendly manner compatible with the limited in the deal? conventional crop is seasonal, and one local biodiversity, unless otherwise 3. How to ensure that the rights of doesn't have to wait for 4-5 years to manipulated by humans. the farmers are in no way to be get a harvest and encash the same. For affected under this deal? small and marginal farmers such things But the question is: which species is best matter significantly whether they are for carbon sequestration? Kaul et al By the time of sending this report to able to recognize it or not. The loss to (2010) have stated that "for a tropical the press, no response from them has soil productivity because of the country like India, having vast range been received. plantation is another factor that goes of forest types, weather and soil against the interest of the farmer even conditions, it is not possible to select While it seems therefore that if he wants to revert back to one forest type that is most suitable for something regarding this initiative has conventional farming. All these factors carbon sequestration." However, given

12 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY the fact that the Forest Department in enrichment would be felt more in span and may retain carbon for several Odisha has, like its counterparts in bamboos than in other grasses resulting decades(INBAR, undated). other states of India, raised in higher Net Primary Productivity commercial plantations of teak, and greater carbon sequestration for A typical risk associated with bamboo eucalyptus, bamboo, and other bamboos similar to the trees(INBAR, is that flowering in bamboo species miscellaneous species whereas the undated). results in the loss of all carbon in the paper mills have promoted plantations biomass of the plant. Although little is of acacia, casuarina, and mostly Bamboo has several advantages over known about the flowering eucalyptus; we need to understand to tree species in terms of sustainability determinants, relatively fixed flowering what extent bamboo (that has been and carbon fixing capacity. Available cycles are known for important species. used as a raw material by the paper studies conclude that bamboo biomass industries since the colonial period), and carbon production may be 7-30% Both in tropical and sub-tropical areas sal(a major species of Indian/Odishan higher compared to the fast growing the annual biomass and carbon sink per forest that occurs as multipurpose wood species. For instance tropical hectare of many bamboo species are natural forests), teak (a major species Bambusa bambos has been measured comparative to wood tree crops, such of commercial plantation), and at a total above ground biomass 287 t/ as eucalyptus or teak. The rotation eucalyptus (the most preferred species ha with a mean annual production of cycle of bamboo should be also promoted by the paper mills to take around 47.8 t/ha/yr, almost twice that considered when comparing it to such on bamboo) are comparable in carbon of the Eucalyptus clones. Interestingly, species. Bamboo will be harvested forestry. the total biomass of mature Bambusa annually (say 20% of the growing at 6 years is in fact higher than that of stock) and will continue producing new Bamboo in carbon seques- teak at 40 years: 149 t C/ha versus only culms throughout its life. Every five tration 126 t C/ha for teak. Sub-tropical moso years the amount of carbon Bamboo is one of the most productive bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) sequestered on one ha will be the same, and fastest growing plants on the reaches above ground biomass of and the tremendous productivity of planet. The fastest-growing species 137.9 t/ha and is generally harvested the bamboo will not be reflected in may grow up to 1.2 m a day. Bamboo at 5-8 years intervals. Every 5 years it living biomass. After 30-40 years (at is also an environmentally friendly would produce at least 86 t/ha biomass the age of teak or eucalyptus plant and net carbon sink; its stands and sequester 43 t/ C/ha, almost twice harvesting) the bamboo's biomass will release 35% more oxygen than as much as a teak plantation under the still be as high as it was at 5-8 years old. equivalent stands of trees. Some same conditions. This includes total (INBAR, undated). bamboo even sequester up to 12 tons biomass as well as products (INBAR, of carbon dioxide from the air per undated). A literature review indicated that the hectare (Bamboojungle, 2005). carbon stock in vegetation (including Besides higher biomass, bamboo has understory species and other mixed Unlike other grasses bamboos are C3 other advantages over wood as a vegetation) of Moso bamboo is within plants which is a reference to the carbon stock. Unlike woody crops the range of 27-77 t C/ ha. The photosynthesis pathway in which the bamboo offers the possibility of annual majority of carbon appears to be carbon dioxide is initially bound in selective harvesting and removal of sequestered in the arbour layer molecules of phosphoglyceric acid about 15-20% of the total stock accounting for 84-99%; the shrub layer containing three carbon atoms as without damaging the environment and the herbaceous layer accounted against C4 plants in which the and stock productivity. Over 90% of for very small contributions, especially photosynthesis initially binds the CO bamboo carbon can be sequestered in in intensively managed bamboo 2 in molecules of oxaloacetic acid with durable products such as boards, forests. When looking at the whole four C atoms. Since C3 plants are more panels, floors, furniture, buildings, ecosystem, including the soil, Moso responsive to CO concentration in the cloth, paper and activated charcoal. bamboo forest ecosystem carbon 2 atmosphere the effect of CO These products have a very long life storage capacity was reported to be 2

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 13 COVER STORY between 102 t C/ha and 289 t C/ha, of It can be argued of course that as long Promotion of smallholder bamboo which 19-33% was stored within the as carbon sequestration is determined farming systems to reduce atmospheric bamboo culms and vegetative layer by measuring the difference in standing greenhouse gas levels to receive and 67-81% stored within the soil layer carbon between Year (t+1) and Year certified emission reduction is (rhizomes, roots and soil carbon). This (t) (a stock change approach), it doesn't therefore recommended (Nath & Das, indicates that the soil layer carbon matter whether and how the 2011). content is likely to be about 2-4 times relocation of carbon between old and greater than the vegetative layer. new culms occurs. Bamboo culms of A study on Dendrocalamus strictus Bamboo ecosystems were found to most species reach maturity after (salia) in Nepal reveals that the above have an equal or somewhat lower approximately 7-10 years, after which and below ground biomass carbon carbon stock (between 102- 288 t C/ they deteriorate rapidly, releasing sequestration in bamboo was found as ha) when compared with other forest carbon from the above-ground 1.66 t/ha and 0.08 t/ha., respectively, types (between 122 - 337 t C/ha). The biomass back into the atmosphere whereas the soil carbon sequestration total carbon stock in bamboo forests is (Liese, 2009 quoted in INBAR, 2010). was found to be 230.32 t /ha. Total C obviously affected by climatic factors. Therefore in a natural state, bamboo sequestration for D. strictus forest was The carbon stock of bamboo in Fujian will reach a stable level of above found to be 232.06 tons/ha (Dhruba province (quoted from Qi, 2009), ground carbon relatively quickly, Vijay & Bhandari, 2010). where the climate is more suitable for where carbon accumulation through bamboo growth than in Zhejiang sequestration is offset by carbon Eucalyptus and other spe- province (quoted from Zhou, 2004), release through deterioration of old cies in carbon sequestration surpassed Pinus elliottii in its 19th year, culms. In order for the bamboo system Carbon sequestration potential of Chinese Fir in its 15th year, and to continue to be a net sink, carbon Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn and showed comparable carbon stock to has to be stored in other forms, so that Acacia salicina Lindl. planted in broad-leaved forest (262.5 t C/ha) and the total accumulation of carbon in a 1973,1975 was studied at the age of tropical forest (230.4 t C/ha)(INBAR, solid state exceeds the carbon released 30-28 years in the elimation plain 2010). to the atmosphere(INBAR, 2010). western areas of Fars province. This study showed that the amount of INBAR has quoted the argument of As per an experiment conducted in carbon sequestrated by E. Magel et al (2005) that growth of the Assam, India on home garden bamboo camaldulensis in the productive site new shoots in a bamboo forest occurs plants of Bambusa cacharensis, and poor site was about 7.80 and 1.13 as a result of transfer of the energy Bambusa vulgaris, and Bambusa ton / ha / year, respectively. On the accumulated in culms through balcooa, the carbon (C) estimate in other hand, for Acacia salicina in the photosynthesis in the previous year. As aboveground vegetation ranged from poor site of this figure was 1.5 ton / ha/ such, the growth of a bamboo culm is 6.51 (2004) to 8.95 (2007) Mg ha-1 year. The highest amount of not driven by its own carbon with 87%, 9% and 4% of the total C sequestrated carbon in E.camaldulensis sequestration, but by sequestration in stored in culm, branch and leaf was in 35 centimeter diameter class. previous seasons in other parts of the respectively. The rate of C sequest- This figure for Acacia was in 25 bamboo system, and as such growth ration was 1.20-1.46 Mg ha-1 yr-1, centimeter diameter class (Pajouhesh of new shoots is not an indicator of with a mean of 1.32 Mg ha-1 yr-1. and Sazandegi, 2006). sequestration rate. On the other hand, Carbon assimilation ratio, an index to Zhou (2009) argues that as the bamboo evaluate C sequestration potential per Way back in 2000, a scientific team system requires more inputs in the unit of C stock, exhibited bamboo from Colorado State University that shooting season of young culms (when farming as an efficient(16-20%) researched carbon storage on a former new shoots grow), high growth in C sequester than other pure plantations sugar cane farm which had been turned bamboo shoots can be equated with a (Dalbergia sissoo -11.11%, and into a plantation for Eucalyptus trees high rate of carbon sequestration Terminalia arjuna -12.07% ) or natural (Eucalyptus saligna) in Hawaii, (INBAR, 2010). forests (Shorea robusta -3.34%). discovered that the acres which were

14 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY interplanted with albizia trees (Albizia produce biomass for meeting the C/ha, respectively, while the amount falcataria) were able to sequester more demand for fuel and fibre, and thus of annual carbon accumulation or the carbon than areas where eucalyptus have higher carbon emission mitigation sequestration rate was quantified at trees were planted alone. The potential. As per their analysis, the net 1.68, 4.55, 5.20, 6.41 and 5.18 t C/ha/ researchers believe that this is due to annual carbon sequestration rates were yr for age classes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 the nitrogen-fixing qualities of the achieved for fast growing short respectively (Iglesias, 2007). albizia trees. They found that in stands rotation poplar (Populus deltoids) (8 where the two species were Mg Carbon/hectare per year) and However, faster rate is sequestration interplanted, the forest contained twice Eucalyptus tereticornis (6 Mg C ha-1 doesn't necessarily mean the average as much carbon in trees as monocrop yr-1) plantations followed by capacity of sequestration to be areas. In addition, areas of pure albizia moderate growing teak forests (2 Mg proportionately higher always. Chavan sequestered about 20 percent more C ha-1 yr-1) and slow growing long et al (2010) have shown that the mean carbon in soil than did the pure rotation sal forests (1 Mg C ha-1 yr-1). organic carbon stock in Ficus religiosa Eucalyptus stands (ScienceDaily, 2000). was 4.91 ton/tree, Mangifera indica An Indian study on four young species 3.59 t, Butea monosperma 2.41 t, Carbon sequestration rate in trees is of trees suggested that the carbon Terminalia indica 1.43 t, Pongamia calculated for two parts like above sequestration rate (mean) from the pinnata 1.80 t, and Eucalyptus ground biomass and below ground ambient air during winter season as citriodora 1.01 t. biomass. This rate/capacity trees varies obtained by Shorea robusta, Albizzia from species to species depending upon lebbek, Tectona grandis and Similarly, Kaul et al (2010) have found various internal and external factors Artocarpus integrifolia were 11.13, that the largest carbon stock in biomass like the age, and agro-climatic 14.86 and 2.57 g/h in overcast skies and products was achieved in sal conditions. Management practices can and 4.22 g/h respectively. The annual forests (101 Mg C ha-1 yr-1). The long- also affect the overall capacity of a carbon sequestration rate from term average stocks in forest biomass forest or plantation. For instance, ambient air were estimated at 8.97 t and wood products respectively for studies have concluded that extended C/ha by Shorea robusta, 11.97 t C/ha Eucalyptus, poplar and teak was 41, rotation lengths and reduced thinning by Albizzia lebbek, 2.07 t C/ha by 55 and 50 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. A mean intensity could enhance the long-term Tectona grandis and 3.33 t C /ha by annual biomass accumulation of 11 Mg capacity of forest ecosystems to Artocarpus integrifolia. The ha-1 yr-1, 16 Mg ha-1 yr-1, 4 Mg ha- sequester carbon(Kaul et al, 2010). percentage of carbon content (except 1 yr-1 and 2.6 Mg ha-1 yr-1 was However, the simple understanding is root) in the aboveground biomass of observed for Eucalyptus, poplar, teak that faster the rate of growth of a Shorea robusta, Albizzia lebbek, and sal, respectively. species quicker is its carbon Tectona grandis and Artocarpus sequestration rate. After a certain age integrifolia were 47.45, 47.12, 45.45 Soil carbon also needs to be considered the tree attains maturity which then and 43.33, respectively. The total while assessing the potential of decreases this capacity. Usually aboveground biomass carbon stock different species in carbon seque- warmer climatic conditions are per hectare as estimated for Shorea stration. Even grasses can contribute supposed to accelerate the growth rate robusta, Albizzia lebbek, Tectona to soil organic carbon (SOC), so a and hence carbon sequestration rate grandis and Artocarpus integrifolia higher contribution is definitely of the trees. were 5.22, 6.26, 7.97 and 7.28 t C /ha, expected from plantations including respectively in these forest stands (Jana that of Eucalyptus (vide for example, Kaul et al(2010) have found that long et al, 2009). Lemma et al, 2006). Land use changes rotation forests (like that of Shorea can significantly alter the net SOC and robusta) have larger long-term carbon A study in Thailand calculated the all adverse changes can therefore storage in forest biomass and product capacity of Eucalyptus plantation age reduce the potential of soil as a major pools and short rotation plantations, in class 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to store carbon at carbon pool/stock. Negi & Gupta addition to carbon storage rapidly 1.68, 9.09, 15.60, 25.62 and 25.90 tons (2012) have shown from their study

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 15 COVER STORY on three different land uses (forest, gas effects for certain sequestration worldover that these activities may grassland, and horticulture) in the practices."(USEPA, 2010) actually increase social conflicts: Chamoli district (India) that SOC was 121.81 t per ha in deodar (Cedrus We have thus seen that taking into "xxx we are inclined to think that the deodara) forest as compared to 56.73 consideration the SOC, the total carbon further development of A/R carbon t per ha in Chir (Pinus roxburghii) sequestration potential of many activities under the CDM, combined forest, 52.48 t/ha in miscellaneous/ indigenous species including bamboo with forest enrichment activities scrub forest, 99.27 t/ha in mango can be quite significant in comparison through the REDD+ framework, can orchards, and 162.87 t/ha in grass with that of some fast growing species result in environmental and social lands. like Eucalyptus. Further, when conflicts. Our review already suggests considered in context of local that projects' design gaps are too wide Thus, a holistic carbon forest ecosystem, biodiversity, and to be addressed through regulation and management is a complex matter that sustainable local livelihoods many of safeguards, while their implementation involves efficient landuse planning and these indigenous species, their will very likely fail to guarantee short- species selection. Unless an integrated plantations or natural forests offer a and long-term benefits for their approach is adopted in sequestration much better option than the participants and the global climate, management, there can be negative Eucalyptus plantations. Therefore, it is except under very particular circum- results too. quite reasonable to doubt the sincerity stances." behind eucalyptus-based CDM "Methane (CH ) and nitrous oxide projects for environmental, ecological, Such a concern has to be linked with 4 (N O) are potent greenhouse gases that and socio-economic security. the existing flaws in CDM approval 2 are also important to consider for process. A CDM project, before forests, croplands and grazing lands. Carbon economy of planta- receiving final approval, has to be put Practices that maintain and sequester tions: the superficialities to public opinion; but unlike the EIA carbon can have both positive and To meet the raw materials public hearing is not mandatory here negative effects on CH and N O requirement, private plantation of pulp nor is the applicant required to notify 4 2 emissions. The relationship among wood varieties like eucalyptus and its intent alongwith relevant project practices that affect CO , CH , and N O casuarina are being promoted by the briefs, in the local newspapers for 2 4 2 can be especially complex in cropping paper mills. This approach mainly public responses. The application is put and grazing systems. For example, if focuses on plantation in 'wastelands'(?) only on some specific website(s) for nitrogen-based fertilizers are applied and 'degraded lands'(?). Plantations are public access, and since most of the to crops to increase yields, this would also being promoted along the bunds people are unaware of CDM and the likely enhance soil carbon but the of the fields and in some cases , the related processes it is almost unlikely benefit could be partially or conventional agricultural lands are that the public would access the project completely offset by increased being diverted for this purpose. Unlike report from the concerned website, emissions of N O. The practice of conventional agricultural crops analyse it, and give its response. Thus, 2 rotational grazing can be beneficial monoculture plantation of fast growing the existing mechanism of CDM across all three major gases: soil carbon and hybrid crops do not allow crop doesn't support in practice a can be maintained and enhanced; rotation since the same crop is transparent and participatory process livestock CH emissions should decline repeated on the same patch of land with public accountability. As such, the 4 due to improved forage quality; and over a period which might lead to soil negotiations/deal remains confined N O emissions can be avoided by nutrient imbalance. However, the practically between the applicant, the 2 eliminating the need for fertilizer socio-economic impacts can be as CDM authorities, and the CDM applications on the pasture. These significant and dangerous as the company; and the whole thing takes complex interactions among gases environmental impacts. Corbera & place keeping the local communities mean that it is important to consider Friedli(2012) have concluded from in dark. not only carbon but all the greenhouse their study on the A/R CDM projects

16 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

The JK story culture plantation, parti-cularly plant eucalyptus were never even told Hardly anybody knew that JK Paper when not compatible with local about their role in carbon had submitted a CDM project ecosystem and biodiversity, will sequestration9, the credits they could covering about 3000 hectares remain a plantation and not earn, and the income they could (practically much less than that) of land exactly a 'forest'. So, the claim for receive from it. The loss and gain that for plantation in 6 districts in Odisha reforestation itself is a fraud from the local farmers reported revealed and Andhra Pradesh. The company the beginning. that the whole plantation project proudly declared this to be the 'first of • Who certifies that the target land hardly resulted in any net economic its kind in South East Asia under is actually 'degraded'? 'Degraded development. On the contrary, the LULUCF' (Sharda, 2008). The stated farm land' can mean either a farmers actually lost in terms of not objectives were to 'reforest' degraded degraded forest land used for only cash income but also food lands to control soil & water erosion, cultivation or a degraded security, nutritional security, and and to reclaim lands; and also agricultural land? In each case health security(see inbox). These poor, economic development through however the parameters would innocent and tribal farmers were not carbon revenue. The company change significantly. If the able to understand the nexus between described the target land type at company means any of these two, JKPL and the local Bank, they did not 'degraded farm land'. The CDM then it should provide adequate understand that JKPL was using the project is said to have started in 2004, and neutral scientific certification Bank so as to reduce its(JKPL) burden but the actual plantation project seems in support of that. of investment and also to secure the to have started much earlier, probably investment. They were certainly not in 2000, as understood by ‘Living But the major scam seems to be at the the people to understand also what the Farms’, an NGO. socio-economic level. Living Farms, a terms & conditions they were asked to non-government organization with its accept would imply for their future. Some salient features of this A/R CDM field office at Bissam Katak in the The result: some of them now have project are as under7 : Rayagada district did a careful survey huge amounts of loan against them • Total land for plantations: 1,600 of the villages having Eucalyptus which they are just unable to repay. ha. plantations raised in and around them Neither JKPL nor the Bank comes to • No. of farmer participants: 1580 under the active facilitation of JK their rescue. (6 districts) Paper Ltd., and found that whereas in • Carbon Sequestered: 60 t/ha the JKPL-Veda-farmer contractual Back to the project 'ideologies'', the (assuming 120 MT yield/ha) agreement, validated by World Bank, World Bank's validation report10 • Value of traded CO : 4 USD/t. a certain percentage(80%) of the (dtd.21 February 2011) of the CDM- 2 carbon credits are supposed to accrue project: 'Improving rural livelihoods The basic questions that arise here are: to farmers as additional income8, through carbon sequestration by • How can one call raising a farmers in at least seven villages in adopting environment friendly plantation of Eucalyptus an Rayagada district who were "tricked technology based agroforestry activity to 'reforest'? A mono- and trapped" (as they described it) to practices' mentions a lot of things that

7 This is based on a presentation prepared and made by VEDA MACS in the international workshop to determine the land eligibility for project development under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of UNFCCC and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) on August 11th 2011. The workshop was organized by the VEDA group that includes VEDA MACS, VCCSLL, and Socio-eCO2NOmix-Global. Details are available at http://www.forestcarbonasia.org/country-profiles/india/ .

8 "Validation of the CDM-Project: Improving Rural Livelioods Through Carbon Sequestration By Adopting Environment Friendly Technology Based Agroforestry Prac- tices", The World Bank, Validation Report, 21 February 2011. http://cdm.unfccc.int/UserManagement/FileStorage/YZC0GL12XOEW4Q5TR7UP6M3JVH9ABN

9 We were told that ‘Living Farms’ was trying to get a confirmation from the World Bank as to whether the farmers under its survey were actually in the list of beneficiaries in the JKPL-VCCSL CDM project. Lack of transparency by the company was obviously the cause of this confusion though one thing is certain that the Eucalyptus plantations in the concerned area have directly or indirectly been promoted by JKPL. RCDC however interacted with a non-tribal and educated farmer of Muniguda who shared that although he was told about the carbon revenue and was asked to sign the agreement paper some two years back, his copy of the agreement was yet to be received from the company while the share in carbon revenue was also not received.

10 Available at : http://cdm.unfccc.int/UserManagement/FileStorage/YZC0GL12XOEW4Q5TR7UP6M3JVH9ABN

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 17 COVER STORY portray a very decent objective of the farmers, the paper company "JK carbon business. So, why has the applicant(s) JKPL and VCCSL in the Paper Ltd", providing technical term 'NGO' been used to larger interest with necessary processes support for the plantation and introduce VCCSL? Why not the (like stakeholder consultations) buying the timber from the term 'private company'? followed quite nicely (?). It also claims farmers afterwards and the World • "The investment barrier is of onsite audit by the CDM validators Bank."(3.4). The question is: what sustained by the low income of who reportedly found most of the kind of an NGO this VCCSL Ltd. the participating farmers on the claims made by the applicants correct. is? Our enquiry with VCCSL limited land holding (IRL 8, 14, While the local communities confirmed that they have not, 53-55). Combined with a delay themselves including the local NGOs unlike most NGOs in India, of the income stream (harvest and like Living Farms have enough ground registered themselves under the financial return only after 5 evidence11 to refute all such Societies Registration Act. Rather, years) this would not be feasible validations, we can simply start with it is registered under the without the project set-up. the dubious statements made in the Companies Act. Practically, the Further the farmers do not have report itself, as under: term NGO is used in India to access to loans from banks to pay • "The project is carried out in imply to voluntary non- for the establishment of the cooperation between the NGO government and not-for-profit plantation (IRL 38, 39, 40, 41). "VEDA Climate Change Solutions organizations, but VCCSL seems Due to the involvement of the Ltd.", which is organizing the to be a company dealing in World Bank's Bio Carbon Fund

Tricked and tapped in Eucalyptus

In Majhialama village, farmer Nari Praska used to get eight hundred kilos of finger millet, four hundred kilos of sorghum and one hundred kilos of pigeon pea from his 4-acre (1.6 hectare) of land every year. His six-member family got sufficient types of nutritious food from this. He even could make INR 2000 from selling the surplus grain. Malnutrition or food crisis was never a problem, and he owed it to his mix-cropping system - different varieties of food like grain crops, pulses and oil seeds could be had from a single piece of land. He hardly depended on externally supplied & marketed food until he planted eucalyptus. Now his family faces four months of food crisis every year. Family members, especially the children, fall sick frequently (thanks to be marketed food?). After seven years of planting eucalyptus, he got INR 48,000 from the harvest. From this, JKPL deducted INR 24,000 against the seedlings he used. In short, in seven years, he only earned INR 3,500 per year. Comparing this amount with his earlier production of food crops, it was a big loss.

In Sanabrundabadi village, Apparao Hikoka says he was planting six varieties of millets and two varieties of pulses and oil seeds in his 4-acre land before eucalyptus. His harvest from these crops was sufficient to keep his family food secure (food grain and oil needs) for 4-5 months. But, just like Nari Praska, he now buys food for his family from the market.

Not only that. In the course of 11 years, he has observed some peculiar things happening in his farm. The water level seems to have been depleted as the natural stream dried up since the Eucalyptus trees were planted. Paddy and millet grown in fields near the eucalyptus trees would also have problems with germination, thereby producing lesser yield. He has also observed that he might not be able to use his land again for other purposes; the residual roots of the eucalyptus needed to be dug otherwise they will grow again. With a 4-acre farm, he would need additional labour to do it. But where would he get the money to pay for it? JKPL has already taken the value of his land for 11 years and, according to him, this will continue for more than 20 years as stipulated in his contract. (Source: Living Farms 2011 draft. Tricked, trapped and land- grabbed: Farmers' experience with eucalyptus in Rayagada, Orissa, INDIA. A formal publication of this draft is available at http://leisaindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LEISA-India-December-2011-pages-13-15.pdf )

11 One can., for instance, easily verify if the Eucalyptus plantations are actually yielding enough grass as fodder, as claimed.

18 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

early money streams are afforestation activities in India intellectually vulnerable people available".(3.6.3) The last two (IRL 47). However, an environ- lacking the capacity to under- statements of this quote lack mental and social impact stand the complexities of the clarity. assessment according to the project, how can the World Bank • "Both VCCSL and JKPL do not requirements of the World Bank satisfy itself that stakeholder have any revenues from the was carried out (IRL 30). Both consultations including farmer project other than from sales of environmental and social impacts interviews were quite useful in carbon certificates. VCSS main of the project were analyzed in terms of ensuring social and business is supporting climate detail in this study. In essence, the environmental justice? change project; JKPL would audit team concluded that no alternatively acquire their raw negative environmental and An on-spot appraisal by RCDC in material on the open market. As social impacts are expected. This November 2011 in the Ratatikiri per contract with the farmers conclusion was also sustained by village near Bissak Katak revealed that JKPL is paying a minimum price the results of the field visit of the the situation is very complex indeed. for the wood to the farmers, audit team as well as positive Most of the farm lands have been adapted to market condition at comments on the project by the alienated to non-resident outsiders time of sales (IRL 9). Thus their consulted stakeholders(3.10)". who have converted the same into income from carbon is mainly The question is: who now will be Eucalyptus plantations. Many of the covering the transaction costs for answerable to the environmental present generation of poor tribal working with small farmers in this and social impacts observed in the villagers may not even know properly project (average size of parcel is 1 concerned villages, as discovered how their forefathers' land was hectare) xxx"(3.6.3). The question by Living Farms? Will the World alienated, but the simple and common here is: can we simply believe that Bank take any responsibility and explanation seems to be mortgaging. JKPL doesn't have any financial beg apology for such an injustice? Now, with very meagre land the interest in the whole project(that • The report mentions that 60 villagers have but few options left, like goes beyond CDM) other than randomly selected farmers were share cropping (cultivating others' land carbon credit? interviewed. No list of these for a share in the final harvest), wage • "No Environmental Impact farmers was provided. Given the labour, and forest collection. World Assessment is required for fact that these farmers were Bank needs to see whose economic

Both these images have a close link. This tree marks the location of a natural spring in the Ratatikiri village that used to irrigate the surrounding paddy field(s). However, after some years of Eucalyptus plantations(promoted by JKPL) in the lands just on its backside but at a height, the spring has lost itself to such an extent that a channel had to be dug to fetch water from the nearby water body. Poor quality of these cell phone photos regretted.

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 19 COVER STORY development after all has been ensured were not registered as CDM project. increasing water scarcity agriculture in through the JKPL-promoted planta- This appears to be a little surprising, the uplands(that lack irrigation facility) tions. but one has also to understand that a became difficult. At this juncture he, simple plantation and a CDM- like many others in that area, was A copy of the tripartite agreement plantation are to be technically motivated to make a 'comfortable and signed between JKPL, VCCSL, and the different from each other in several profitable' use of this land through farmer has been analysed by RCDC. respects. Several additional para- Eucalyptus plantation. An NGO, which Clause 12 under article-II of the said meters, often complex, are to be partnered with BILT, facilitated the tripartite agreement requires the considered for applying for a CDM whole process under the latter's farmer to alienate irrevocably his rights project whereas a non-CDM corporate social responsibility(?). A on carbon to the CDM company plantation doesn't need all such farmers' cooperative(Patneswari Agri (VCCSL). Why is this irrevocability formalities and responsibilities. Cooperative Ltd) was formed, and the necessary? However, RCDC's own case study in 'beneficiaries' received loan as the Mundiguda village of Koraput members of this cooperative. One can The BILT way of socio- district revealed that the kind of non- see from their pass book that it contains economic development transparent ploy that JKPL adopted in details of how much loan accrued As mentioned earlier, RCDC has not the Rayagada district was more or less against what activity(like, supply of been able to access so far any official the same adopted by BILT with a saplings, land preparation, etc.). The confirmation of an A/R CDM project major exception that the latter passbook also contains a slogan by Ballarpur Industries Ltd. though the projected it as a CSR project and suggesting to grow Eucalyptus for company has been carrying out implemented it through an NGO. better income. Raghunath has confined plantation activities or promotion paddy cultivation to the low lands only, thereof, like its counterpart JKPL. Mundiguda is a tribal village in the and has diverted the uplands for Interestingly, the validation report of Baipariguda Block of Koraput district. Eucalyptus since 2009. JKPL's A/R CDM project, discussed in Raghunath Katia, a resident of this the previous section, clearly states that village owns both low land and uplands. Somnath Chalan is a co-villager of BILT's plantations activities were not He used to cultivate conventional crops Raghunath who has a similar story. He linked to carbon finance, i.e. these in both types of land, but due to has diverted about 1.5 acres of his

The farmer's passbook. BILT's logo appears on the top right corner of the cover page with that of the NGO on the left corner.

20 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY upland for Eucalyptus keeping the low asked for the written agreement and helped the company to implement lands for paddy. The first setback he other such papers Raghunath and such a ploy. suffered was about half of the saplings Somnah could show us only the initially planted died and he received passbooks that confirm only their Other than Mundiguda, villages like no support against that. In fact, the liabilities and no responsibility of BILT. Gumar, Karamguda and Barangpali in pulpwood promoter companies are Although they legally own the land, the Baipariguda Block and some normally known to have set such the rights have been virtually alienated villages in the Kundura Block have norms in the agreement with farmers in one way or the other through the reportedly been affected by this so- that they would not take any Eucalyptus plantation that makes them called CSR project. The BILT factory responsibility in case of sapling dependent on the company (BILT) is not too far from these areas. mortality. and subject to the terms & conditions of the latter. Interestingly, NABARD has colla- The so-called CSR project of BILT has borated with Ballarpur Industries Ltd. been able to divert many farm lands Their lands were not exactly degraded. providing loan-cum-grant support to for a crop that serves the company These are uplands requiring irrigation the Patneswari Agri Cooperative Ltd. more than the society. The company facility and agricultural inputs. Even 'for propagation of agro- forestry quite tactfully invests its CSR fund for without such inputs millets could have (Eucalyptus plantation with inter- its own purpose in this case. The grown. Instead of helping the farmers cropping) in dry land/upland of farmers are not in a position to through land development and Koraput district'. It is claimed that 815 understand the nitty-gritty of the irrigation facilities BILT rather farmers are benefiting under this matter; they have gone more by the implemented a strategy that suited its programme, and that the plantation verbal assurances & commitments of own interest first and foremost though programme is running smoothly. Most the facilitators/promoters than the farmers' interest was the plea. What is importantly, NABARD, which claims written documents. And, when we more unfortunate is that an NGO this programme as the 'Umbrella

An Eucalyptus plantation near Mundiguda. The paddy field by its side definitely suggests that it was not a degraded land.

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 21 COVER STORY

Programme for Natural Resources ‘farmer's perspective’ (?) based on his/ project. However, since the Management', also says that a "project her individual capacity and is therefore farmers individually lack to provide CDM benefits under a relative one. capacity to solely undertake carbon trading to the farmers is in the CDM related administrative pipeline" (source: http://koraput. We reproduce below, as per a format processes, they have signed a nic.in/new/nabard/upnrm.htm designed by us, some salient features MoU with PACL to accessed on 10 August 2012). and information as quoted from the undertake the CDM activities Project Design Document(PDD) of and take ownership of the A discussion with the Chief Executive PACL, dtd. 13-2-2012: CERs on behalf of the farmers. Officer, Patneswari Agri-Cooperative The farmers have also Ltd. revealed the following 1. Name of the project: Agro- authorized PACL to be the information: forestry Interventions in Koraput project participant in the • With support of NABARD, the district of Orissa proposed A/R CDM activity. Cooperative has applied for the 2. The total area of the project: PACL, after using a portion of carbon credit in January 2010. 380.8 hectares (941.1 acres) the revenues to support their BILT(which initially promoted 3. Scale/type: Small (conversion of administrative and other CDM the plantation activity under its non-forest waste lands to forest expenses incurred for CSR project) is not supposed to land through agro forestry undertaking the project, will be a direct party to this deal, and Interventions). distribute the CERs amongst individual farmers of the 4. Overall project objective: "The the farmers".(PDD, A.6) Cooperative would be the main overall objective of the A/R CDM 7. Dubious statements/claims: beneficiaries. activity is to mitigate climate • "The agro-forestry project is • The plantations started in 2006, change while contributing to being undertaken by poor and in the 1st phase of the CDM sustainable environmental farmers through a co- proposal only 496 farmers management, community operative society. PACL is the registered by 2009 have been development and poverty project participant for the enlisted in the proposal. alleviation of tribal farmers in five proposed CDM project. In • The Cooperative was registered blocks of Koraput district in the absence of the project activity, in 2008. Harsha Trust worked as state of Odisha". the current land use would a facilitator, and helped in 5. Specific objectives: have been continued, i.e. the capacity building and other such • Encourage agro-forestry land would have remained things for the farmers. carbon models for poor barren".(B.7) • The validation of the CDM communities • "There are no negative impacts proposal has been completed, but • To establish and manage the identified as significant in the registration will take some more forest plantation proposed A/R CDM project time. At present there is no clarity • To promote environmental activity".(D.2) about the net financial benefit to conservation the farmers from this CDM deal. • To facilitate socio-economic More information on this matter is • The proposal has been submitted development available at http://paclkoraput.org/ to UNFCCC. 6. Sharing of carbon revenue: index.html • The farmers have ownership and The CEO agreed to the observation of of the products harvested on http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/ RCDC that the lands in which the the land and therefore all Validation/DB/OV736B5 plantations have been taken up are carbon pools in the land are Z6FTBARE2 RCOQOPTCHP3KRE/ degraded not from the technical point owned by the farmers. Thus, view.html of view, but from the socio-economic the farmers have legal rights point of view only; that is, it is a over the tCERs issued to the

22 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

Project of Mangalam Timber In a self-declaration, Mangalam this project says that the company Products Limited Timbers has said: "In anticipation of decided in April 2001 to start an A/R Mangalam Timber Products Limited the huge gap between the demand and CDM project, and the project started (MTPL), Nabarangpur (Odisha) which supply of timber in the years to come, in June 2001. Year-wise plantation produces wood products such as our Company has taken a proactive activity by the company has been medium density fibre board, has step by concentrating on a large-scale provided as under (in hectares of reportedly taken up plantation plantation under the Farm Forestry plantation): programme since 2001. It has and/or Private Public Partnership attempted to earn carbon credits (PPP) Scheme. Our Company has Like others, this company(MTPL) also against these plantations under the done a commendable job in plantation uses farmers' lands which it says were project titled "Reforestation of activity by taking plantation in 45135 in a degraded condition. Ruling out any degraded land by MTPL in India" in acres, planting 39.98 million trees so other better option or alternative for such lands (like, land development for Table-3: Year-wise statistics of plantations by MTPL better productivity) it says the Year of plantation Acres planted Number of trees following: planted in lakhs 1999 - 2000 451 4.68 The degraded condition of the 2000 - 2001 625 6.23 • land would not support 2001 - 2002 2538 24.05 agricultural practices. The 2002 - 2003 5061 45.85 farmers would not afford the costs 2003 - 2004 6744 60.40 for preparation of land for 2004 - 2005 12216 106.80 carrying cultivation. Thus this 2005 - 2006 16500 143.13 alternative is not feasible.(PDD, the Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and far. Year-wise details of plantation Section C-6) Visakapatnam districts of Andhra undertaken are given below : Pradesh; Koraput, Malkangiri, The plantation activity spreads over The species selected for plantation is Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, the states of Orissa,Chattisgarh and Eucalyptus hybrid. However, there is and Bolangir districts of Odisha; and Andhra Pradesh. At Mangalam an interesting remark on this species Durg, Bastar, Mahasamund, Raighar, Timber, we not only safeguard made by the company as under: Bilaspur, Raipur, and Kanker districts environment but also enrich the forest of Chhatisgarh. Although this project resources by extensive plantation • The species used were fast - covers three states, about 83% of the under our FARM FORESTRY growing Eucalyptus with a project area(originally about 18000 SCHEME / PUBLIC PRIVATE relatively high economic return hectare land in three states which was PLANTATION SCHEME.” (Source: and they are managed as short later reduced to about 15000 hectares http://www.scribd.com/doc/ rotation commercial plantations. as per the revised PDD, dtd. 14th June 18020135/Mangalam-Timber ) However, eucalyptus requires 2011) is in Odisha (Vide Monitoring good site conditions and cannot Report dated 12th January 2012, Sub- The validation report dated 8th July adapt on degraded or poor sites. section A1/1). 2011 and prepared by TÜV SÜD Also, to reduce cost , these Industrie Service GmbH, Germany for commercial plantations have

Table-4: District-wise statistics of plantations by MTPL Districts 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Nabarangpur 198.93 460.68 480.20 899.75 971.09 811.73 1180.87 Koraput 322.52 461.70 712.42 1211.32 1624.32 1612.47 1551.82 Malkangiri 3.84 13.91 56.09 153.55 171.68 156.08 201.13 (Source: PDD dated 30th January 2009, Sub-section A.4.2)

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 23 COVER STORY

been in easily accessible lands with Certain statements made in the PDD MTPL as facilitator. Therefore good nearby transportation were questioned by Mr. Keshav C Das, neither of the investments can be infrastructure. Without these Regional Director, Business Operation, excluded from investment features plantations are not CTG Advisory Services India Pvt. Ltd, analysis. In absence of investment economically attractive. Clean Trade Group, New Delhi. The by either of MTPL or the farmers • Eucalyptus, fast growing species, company clarified on some of those the project activity would not is used in the proposed A/R CDM points and revised the PDD on the basis have happened at all.” (Validation project activity to raise the overall of the queries. One important revision Report, p.74) economic return rate of the was regarding the use of the term project. Otherwise, even with the 'waste land'. Regarding the farmers' involvement in carbon benefit, it will not be “The terminology 'waste land' claiming the carbon credit, the PDD economically attractive.(PDD, was used in the same meaning as says the following: Section C-6) degraded land. However, it has “In this proposed project farmers been removed and PDD have agreed into a Tripartite The validation report says that whereas corrected accordingly.” Agreement with MTPL and no Environmental Impact Assessment (Validation Report, Section 4) Bank. According to this is required for afforestation activities agreement MTPL have agreed to in India,, MTPL however carried out Regarding financial investments, the supply good quality seedlings and an Environmental Impact Assessment Validation Report says the following: fertilizers on competitive rate to describing the main activities of the “It is true that investment for farmers. The industry also agrees plantation activity and the potential reforestation is done by the to provide technical, assistance impacts caused in the environment and farmers through bank loan. and services relating to planting at the socio-economic level; and that MTPL is not investing directly on and maintenance of such although there might be possible plantation activity. But MTPL's plantation till they are harves ted. impacts on water and soil due to the role is like a facilitator in the The plantation done under this plantation of Eucalyptus spp; the project activity. Unless MTPL is Agreement is eligible for claiming evidence provided indicates that no involved the farmers would not Carbon Credit under the negative impacts are expected ‘at the be able to get loan and the project prevailing Laws, Rules & time of validation’. It further states that would not have come up at all. Regulations. Since it may not be nonetheless MTPL has a monitoring MTPL is committed to provide possible for the farmer to claim plan in place specifically for soil and all supports like providing quality of such Carbon Credit, the farmer water : seedlings including its hereby authorizes the company “The social impacts were also transportation, arranging bank viz., Mangalam Timber Products discussed and analysed in the loan, training & technical Limited (hereby referred to as brief EIA submitted to the audit guidance, arranging manures & industry) to take necessary steps team . In light of the socio- fertilizers, transport for harvested for getting the Carbon Credit due economic situation of the crop and over and above the on such plantation. All other farmers at the time the project entire monitoring activity is done matters relating to claim of such started, it is expected that the by MTPL that requires Carbon Credit may be mutually proposed project activity will infrastructure and huge decided by the farmer and the provide additional labour investment on the part of MTPL. Industry.” (Sub-section G.1) opportunities and income from As a matter of fact there are two the sale of the pulpwood to the investments, one by farmers Further, the revised PDD says: PP as well as revenues from the directly on plantation and the “Since land for reforestation carbon sequestered in their other by MTPL for supporting under the project activity is trees.” (Validation report, plantation, combined together owned by poor down trodden Section 3.10) establish the project activity with farmers & tribal, it’s not possible

24 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

for them to claim carbon credit payment may change on the basis 5. The Validation Report says, "no on such reforestation. As such of mutual agreement. negative impacts are expected at they individually authorize MTPL 4. The farmers will not be entitled the time of validation". This seems to claim carbon credit on their for CER revenue in the event of to be a carefully drafted statement behalf and the company agrees failure of their plantation and /or to hide some reality or risks, to share a part of carbon revenue opting out from the scheme and / because the project impact is not with them.” (Sub-section A.2). or other plantation (s) which is limited to the 'time of validation'. not included in the project That the report is silent about the The revised PDD says also that in India boundary. long term impact is dubious. there is no specific regulation on rights 5. The farmers will not claim for 6. While it is clear that the company to carbon credits, and describes how carbon credit for the plantations has obtained authorization from the company proposes to share the included in the subject project the farmers to itself claim the credit benefits with the farmers in boundary through any other carbon credit, the benefit sharing absence of such a regulation, as under: agency (ies) or organization (s). (for such credits) mechanism 1. Entire cost incurred on (Sub-section A.6) between the farmer and the development, documentation, company seems to be differently mapping, measurement, valid- One can draw the following inferences formulated than that mentioned ation, verification and registration from the above-quoted statements: in the tripartite agreement of CDM project will be borne by 1. MTPL claims to have thought of between JK Paper, VCCSL, and the company. The farmers will a CDM-oriented plantation the farmer. not be required to pay on this activity even in 2001. 7. The company ensures minimum account. However any incidental 2. During 2001-02 and 2007-08, risk for itself by involving banks expenses which may require the maximum plantation was which finance the plantation additionally in future during the done in Koraput district and the activity for the farmers. The crediting period may be charged minimum in Malkangiri district. actual beneficiary is the company to the farmers with prior notice 3. On one hand the company says itself, but arrangement is such that to them. that it promotes plantations in the farmers are treated as the real 2. The farmers will get degraded land, on the other hand beneficiaries and are linked with proportionate share in the CER it says Eucalyptus can't grow on Bank loans, thereby increasing revenue earned by the company degraded lands or poor sites. This their liability. on prorate basis in lieu of their in fact coincides with the fact that plantation included in CDM many of the Eucalyptus Overally it seems that like in other project boundary. The company plantations have been done in similar cases MTPL manages to have a agrees to pay 12% of the CER lands which are not so degraded CDM proposal that is validated to have revenue earned per acre to the actually though the concerned conformed to almost all the farmers at present or as mutually companies claim the same to be requirements. From the company to agreed upon from time to time in degraded. the validator, from the CDM future. 4. The company itself indicates that Authority to the UNFCCC, all try to 3. The sum due to the farmers under the major objective behind play a clean role in the matter although CDM will be paid normally growing Eucalyptus is better the actual dynamics doesn't seem to through bank within three economic returns. This implies be that simple and clean. months of realization of CER that sustainable development is revenue by the company for not the actual objective, rather More information on this is available which they will be required to for the purposes of obtaining at http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/ furnish a SB account in their carbon finance sustainable TUEV-SUED1310638384.3/view . name when asked for by the development and social benefits company. However, mode of are given importance.

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 25 COVER STORY

Eucalyptic gain: the fallacy JK Paper is also a partner of IFC in the social forestry tree. Thus, plantations While it is true that in a situation where India Farm Forestry programme. And of Eucalyptus may be limited as farmers get poor returns from one can see from various media reports industrial plantations with paddy(that too when the market price and IFC's own proclamations, that this management regime drawn parallel to of rice is increasing ironically), diverting partnership programme took the plea any intensively produced crop." agricultural land for pulpwood of improving the livelihood conditions plantation definitely seems promising of small subsistence farmers though it Natural forests & CDM for them, particularly because it is also a fact that such small farmers Whereas there is a vast area of natural doesn't require regular labour work or are quite vulnerable both socially and forests under the control of Forest inputs and hence is quite convenient. socio-economically because of their Department in Odisha, there is no clear However, of late some of them seem poor capacity and small lands, and any information to suggest that the to understand also that while paddy or vested interest initiative that works Department has actually tried to other conventional crops gave them under a mask of social service is likely formally link it with carbon credits for returns every year, the plantation to exploit this vulnerability thereby financial gain. Authorities of the Japan takes about 4-5 years to encash. increasing it further in the long run. As government assisted Odisha Forestry Further, although Eucalyptus produces we have seen earlier several case Sector Development Project deny that coppices the growth rate, quality of studies can be found confirming this any such initiative have been taken by production gradually decreases with apprehension in the areas under them. On the other hand Odisha Forest the next generation crops of the same shadow industrialization by BILT and Development Corporation, which plantation. JKPL so far Odisha is concerned, and trades in important forest produce on similar cases are likely to exist in other behalf of the state government also In terms of biodiversity plantations of states too. declines to pursue any such proposal, exotic species have often been found chiefly because of its controversial to be like almost a No Biodiversity ITC has taken care to distinguish nature. Zone. There is hardly any between its farm forestry and social undergrowth of indigenous species, forestry programme13. It has clarified A good part of the natural forests are and there are hardly any bee hives or that social forestry programme under community control, and while bird nests12. After each rotational provides support to marginal farmers there are reports that in one or two cutting the canopy cover totally whereas farm forestry programme is cases in other parts of India forests disappears (in average practices seen) for those who can invest in the jointly managed by the Forest instantly proving all claims of plantation. It is ironical that an Department and the communities have environmental benefits a fallacy. international agency like IFC did not been attempted to be linked with seem to have taken such a care so as to REDD+, amidst mixed reactions to the What is more unfortunate is that the have a different approach for the same(some welcome this whereas International Finance Corporation marginal land holders. other oppose saying community (IFC) under the World Bank has initiatives should not be monetized this partnered with BILT "to encourage NABARD(2007), which provides way). more rice farmers to engage in forestry financial support for Eucalyptus programmes." It has claimed that the plantations, has however cautioned Recently, under a Government of participating communities "are clearly that "though Eucalyptus is an excellent India multi-state project, the Forest benefiting from the income received industrial species, providing timber for Department of Odisha has started a from selling trees grown on previously poles, pulp and fuelwood, it cannot be REDD+ pilot project in the Jerengbudhi non-cultivated degraded land after the used as fodder plant and provide other Pahad VSS in the Chhendipada Block 3-year growing period"(IFC, 2011). non-timber uses, limiting its role as a of Angul district(The Khabar, 2012).

12 There are, like in all other cases, exceptions here also. For instance, nests of the common myna have been found by the RCDC team in an avenue plantation(old) of Eucalyptus in the Mayurbhanj district. Please see the next article.

13 See for ex., http://www.itcgreenpapers.com/Plantations.aspx

26 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

IFC's India Farm Forestry Programme : Excerpts from IFC's Request for Expression of Interest for Phase-I in 2009

"The Farm Forestry sector in India is projected to grow and play an increasingly important role in providing fibre for the forest product sector ("FPS") for years to come, given the increasing local wood shortage and Indian law limiting the availability of sizable land plots. Today, farm forestry accounts for 5 million of the global 11 million jobs related to forestry in India with most of the farmers involved being rural subsistence small -holder (less than 1 HA) farmers, living on less than $1.00/day. The farm forestry operations of IFC's pulp and paper investment clients account for 25%-50% of added income for 1,70,000 poor farmers. The Carbon Sequestration associated with these investments was estimated at 2 million tCO2 in 2007 and is expected to increase to 3.5 million tCO2 by 2010. In order to further support this sector, IFC organised a two-day farm forestry advisory workshop in Delhi in September 2008. Forty participants including corporates, government, research organizations, forest departments, and national and international experts in agro-forestry discussed the main constraints to farm forestry and identified ways to overcome these constraints. In particular, the workshop discussed the following barriers to the development of a farm forestry approach: • Low productivity: xxxx • Absence of adequate financing: xxxx • Technical constraints at smallholder level: xxxx. In order to address these constraints, IFC, in partnership with its investment clients, is currently developing the India Farm Forestry Advisory program. This program will focus on increasing the productivity and yield of the farm forestry pro- grams and enable farmers to generate greater income through capacity building, exposure to new planting techniques and better access to finance." (Source: http://www.dgmarket.com/tenders/np-notice.do~4420209)

However, before this government under the pressure of changing times, which are fast becoming a compulsion initiative RCDC has started a similar REDD+ can, under suitable norms, for the developing and under- pilot project14 in 33 villages of Saintala provide some help to successfully face developed countries where such a Forest Range of Balangir district where the challenge. RCDC's pilot project is process has long-term adverse effects the local communities are protecting essentially subject to such community- despite some short term benefits. CDM the forest. RCDC's pilot project is friendly suitable norms (to be adhered and REDD+ seem to be byproducts of experimental in the sense that it will by the carbon financer), and in case of this process. help verify the myths & realities any deviation to that the project is relating to REDD+, and is essentially likely to be dropped. On the other hand, the natural- linked with the voluntary carbon resource-based life & livelihood is fast finance sector that is less bureaucratic Conclusion becoming a tradition of the past with and more liberal than UNFCCC, and is Increasing monetization of life, the new generation focusing on careers supposed to honor the rights of the livelihood, and the resources; and and livelihood options that relate to a local communities alongwith the increasing commoditization of even synthetic and artificial world. national interest. RCDC believes that the basic ecosystem services have Resources are abandoned or alienated when the conventional value system become one of the unfortunate and in this process, CPRs are ignored/ of community forestry is facing trouble unwanted realities of the present world neglected/encroached, and household/

14 In fact this is still in a preparatory state by the time of publication of this report, and before actually/formally implementing the project RCDC will review the experiences of this preparatory stage so as to decide whether to go for the formal/actual implementation. Because, RCDC can't accept any undue imposition on the rights of the community, even if that is financially profitable. A useful document in this context may be downloaded at http://rcdcindia.org/PbDocument/281e41936fd22e9- 2ef8-41fe-bd58-f9e63e8db9c4w-report.pdf .

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 27 COVER STORY rural economy is more & more locality. Moreover, the farm land food security. Unfortunately, there is controlled by alien actors. converted into such plantations may hardly any promising mechanism that Conventional cropping being replaced lose its fertility/viability in the long run. can stop the farmers in doing this, nor by pulpwood plantation is but a is there any effective government reflection of this misery. Even if such concerns and apprehen- initiative to put things under control. sions are sidelined for the time being, RCDC believes that by promoting Weak/dubious political commitment, the immediate realities do not support natural regeneration and plantations of opportunistic attitude among the an optimistic picture. RCDC's findings indigenous species of multipurpose use, people, and the evolutionary change suggest that in the whole plantation and also by taking the people in process: all contribute to such and/or CDM business the farmers' confidence through a transparent & unfortunate trends. However, there is position is most vulnerable because of people-friendly mechanism interest of still some scope to prevent a totally the following reasons: both sides can be secured, and the so- frustrating situation, and to safeguard called carbon capitalism can turn into a minimum essential security in respect • Lack of transparency at the carbon socialism. The NCDMA of of our life & livelihood, ecosystem, provider(company) level India, UNFCCC, and the World Bank national interest, and global climate • Complex process of validation & alongwith the volunteer buyers are change. A/R CDM, if conceived in a other things hereby urged therefore to make CDM holistic way and implemented with • Ignorance at the farmers' level to a holistic and community-friendly sincerity, can still be in larger interest secure their rights in this new form mechanism that can really contribute of the humanity. Our analysis in the of business. to the climate change adaptation & previous sections suggests however that mitigation initiatives of humanity with neither the government, nor the On the other hand another concern is clear ground-level accomplishment. World Bank or UNFCCC is serious that, by increasing the area under Otherwise, it would remain, as it is now, about this, not to speak of the applicant pulpwood plantations the paper mills a flawed & superficial arrangement in company and the ignorant seem to be ensuring what we may call which the vested interest groups communities. Validation reports may 'shadow industrialization' because realize the maximum benefits at the be different from the ground realities. although the farmers own the land the cost of local and global interests of The so-called carbon forestry may not landuse is reserved for the mills. When humanity. exactly be a forest or ecosystem in itself, productive land is fast decreasing in ² but a mere plantation incompatible area, diverting the same for non-food with the larger ecosystem in the cash crops is definitely a threat to the Bikash Rath

ABBREVIATIONS

A/R : Afforestation & reforestation lCER : Long-term CER ADt : Air dry ton MT : Metric ton BILT : Ballarpur Industries Ltd. NCDMA : National CDM Authority CDM : Clean Development Mechanism NESPON : North Eastern Society for Preservation of Nature and Wild CER : Certified emission rate Life) Cha-1yr-1 : Carbon per hectare per year NFFPFW : National Forum for Forest People & Forest Workers CSE : Centre for Science & Environment NPC : National Productivity Council CSR : Corporate Social Responsibility OBDA : Odisha Bamboo Development Agency DISHA : Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action). OECD : Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development DNA : Designated National Authority PESA : The Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment SPCB : State Pollution Control Board FAQ : Frequently Asked Questions t/ha : ton per hectare FRA : Forest Rights Act, 2006 tCER : Temporary CER INBAR : International Network for Bamboo & Rattan tCO2 : ton carbon dioxide INR : Indian rupee TPA : Ton per annum IPPTA : Indian Pulp & Paper Technical Association UNFCCC : United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change IRL: Information Reference ist L USEPA : United States Environmental Protection Agency ITC : Indian Tobacco Company VCCSL: Veda Climate Change Solutions Ltd. JKPL: JK Paper Ltd. VCS : Voluntary Carbon Standard Kton : Kiloton VSS : Vana Samrakshan Samiti

28 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 COVER STORY

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19. ITC(2009). ITC Sustainability Report. Quoted in http://www.itcgreenpapers.com/Energy.aspx 20. Jana, B.K.(2009). Carbon sequestration rate and aboveground biomass carbon potential of four young species. Journal of Ecology and Natural Environment Vol. 1(2), pp. 015-024, May, 2009. http://www.academicjournals.org/ jene/PDF/Pdf2009/May/Jana%20et%20al.pdf 21. Kant, P.(2010). Should Bamboos and Palms be included in CDM Forestry Projects? , IGREC Working paper, No. IGREC- 07: 2010, Institute of Green Economy, New Delhi 22. Kaul, M. et al(2010). Carbon storage and sequestration potential of selected tree species in India. Mitigation & Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Vo.15, No.5(2010). 23. Lal, M. & Roma Singha(2000). Carbon Sequestration Potential of India's Forests. http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/ springer-journal/carbon-sequestration-potential-of-indian-forests-ZY50XagEkL?key=springer_journal 24. Lawbuary, Jo(undated). Eucalyptus Planting in 'Social Forestry' in India: Boon or Curse?. http://www.ganesha.co.uk/ Articles/Eucalyptus.htm 25. Lemma, B. et al (2006). Soil carbon sequestration under different exotic tree species in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Geoderma (2006) Volume: 136, Issue: 3-4, Pages: 886-898. http://www.mendeley.com/research/soil- carbon-sequestration-different-exotic-tree-species-southwestern-highlands-ethiopia-5/ 26. Living Farms (2011 draft). Tricked, trapped and land-grabbed: Farmers' experience with eucalyptus in Rayagada, Orissa, INDIA) 27. Nath, A.J. and A.K.Das(2011). Carbon storage and sequestration in bamboo-based smallholder homegardens of Barak Valley, Assam. CURRENT SCIENCE, vol. 100, no. 2, 25 January 2011. http://cs-test.ias.ac.in/cs/Volumes/ 100/02/0229.pdf 28. NABARD(National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development)(2007). Model Bankable Projects: Eucalyptus. http://www.nabard.org/modelbankprojects/forestry_eucalyptus.asp 29. Negi, S. and M.K.Gupta(2012). Carbon sequestration through Soil Organic Carbon Pool under different forest covers in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The Indian Forester. Vo. 138, No.3, March 2012. 30. NFFPFW et al(2011). The Indian CDM: Subsidizing & Legitimizing Corporate Pollution. 31. NPC (2006). Final report on development of guidelines for water conservation in pulp and paper sector. http:// cpcb.nic.in/newitems/45.pdf 32. NPC(undated). Final Report on Water Conservation in Pulp & Paper Sector. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/ 26133712/DEVELOPMENT-OF-GUIDELINES-FOR-WATER-CONSERVATION-IN-PULP-AND# 33. OBDA(undated). Bamboo resource. http://www.odishabamboo.org/oscenario.php 34. Pajouhesh and Sazandegi (2006). Carbon Sequestration Potential of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Acacia salicina Lindl. Plantation In Western Areas of Fars Province. http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search/ display.do?f=2008%2FIR%2FIR0811.xml%3BIR2007003216 35. Paramathma, M. , J.A.Amal, and M.Rajkumar (2000). Tree Allelopathy in Agro-forestry. In. Allelopathy in Eco- logical Agriculture & Forestry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. http://books.google.co.in/ books?id=FfZJ9V0SjhwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Allelopathy+in+Ecological+Agriculture+%26+ Forestry&source=bl&ots=vaG74FPRaV&sig=yECFz-xzlUERVt8Mp858agtq4u4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=D- gkUMX7B4jsrAfhmoHoBA&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Allelopathy%20in%20 Ecological%20Agriculture%20%26%20Forestry&f=false

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36. Rath, B.(2005).Vulnerable Tribal Livelihood and Shifting Cultivation: The Situation in Orissa. Vasundhara. Bhubaneswar. http://www.vasundharaorissa.org/Research%20Reports/VulnerableTribalLivelihoodandShiftingCultivation.pdf 37. Rath, B.(20051). Bamboo in Orissa: Trade & Livelihood Perspective. Vasundhara. www.vasundharaorissa.org/ Research%20Reports/BambooInOrissa.pdf 38. Schumacher, Katja and Jayant Sathaye(1999). India's Pulp and Paper Industry: Productivity and Energy Efficien- cy. http://ies.lbl.gov/iespubs/41843.pdf 39. ScienceDaily(2000). Carbon Sequestration: Seeing The Forest For Its Trees. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/ 2000/12/001219074241.htm 40. Sharda, A.K.(2008). Improving Rural Livelihood through Carbon Sequestration(CDM A/R) Project: JK's Path Breaking Initiative on CDM. IPPTA journal. Jan.-March 2008. http://www.ipptaonline.org/Jan-March%202008/ Abstract_2008_Issue_1_IPPTA_Article_12.pdf 41. Singh, J.K.(undated). Clean Development Mechanism(CDM) and Carbon Trading in India. http://www.tce.co.in/ Downloads/bro_pdf/papers/cdm_carbon_trading.pdf 42. Skutsch, M.(2004). CDM and LULUCF: what's in it for women? A note for the Gender and Climate Change Network. http://www.uneca.org/acpc/resources/cc_gender/docs/Skutsch_CDMandLULUCFwhatinitforwomen.pdf 43. SPCB(2006). State of Environment Orissa 2006. Table 2.15 44. The Business Standard(2007). Huge potential in carbon trading for eastern states. August 13, 2007. http:// www.business-standard.com/india/news/huge-potential-in-carbon-trading-for-eastern-states/294327/ 45. The Business Standard(2012). Indian paper industry eyes 7 % growth by next year. 1st March 2012. http:// www.business-standard.com/india/news/indian-paper-industry-eyes-7growth-by-next-year/466272/ 46. The Financial Express(2004). Going back to the roots. June 19, 2004. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/ going-back-to-the-roots/108129/0 47. The Financial Express(2010). Studies show paper is far more ecofriendly than electronics. http:// www.financialexpress.com/news/studies-show-paper-is-far-more-ecofriendly-than-electronics/719587/5 48. The Hindu(2011). JK Paper plans to raise Rs 246 cr via rights issue. July 20, 2011. http:// www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2277038.ece 49. The Hindu (20111). 68 p.c. emission of CO2 takes place in thermal power generation: report. http://www.hindu.com/ 2011/02/16/stories/2011021661330300.htm 50. The Khabar(2012). RDDD+ Pilot Jojanara Subharambha, p.13, 14th May 2012 51. UNFCCC(2012). Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). http://unfccc.int/methods_and_science/ lulucf/items/3060.php 52. UNFCCC(undated). The Marrakesh Accord & the Marrakesh Declaration(draft). unfccc.int/cop7/documents/ accords_draft.pdf 53. USEPA(2010). Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture and Forestry. http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/faq.html

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 31 CURRENT ISSUE

Eucalyptus revisited

As a researcher this author once At Dompada I had the opportunity to market. For instance, local offer may decided for a field appraisal of meet Sri Pradeep Kumar Dhal who vary from Rs.160 to Rs.220 per pole(a Eucalyptus in context of one of the once worked for the Emami Paper mature tree pole may weigh 60 kg to major arguments against it that doesn't Mills for their plantation programme. 80 kg) without debarking, and allow any other species to grow under He shared that he alongwith some of excluding small branches. The its shade. The objective was to his family members has been using the purchaser takes all responsibility of physically see, through a rapid land mostly of their own or belonging cutting and transporting, etc.. On the appraisal, its compatibility with the to some close relation, for growing other hand, the paper mill offers local ecosystem and biodiversity. Eucalyptus. In the Dompada area none Rs.270/quintal or so, but for debarked of the paddy lands have been diverted timber, that too at the company's site Because of time constraints and other and the timber is to be cut into the size limitations I chose a route close to prescribed by the mill. The norms of Bhubaneswar where the change of a the company become labour- number of sightings of Eucalyptus intensive and burden-some whereas plantations was told to be high. On the local sale is almost tension-free. 18th July I therefore started on the Small branches of a tree are sold at Baranga-Athagarh road. Near Barang around Rs.20. Moreover, the mill may I saw a small and dense patch of A large patch of Eucalyptus farming delay in lifting the material from the on a hill side land of Dompada area. Eucalyptus in a private land, and a farmer's site thereby causing weight local man clarified that this plantation for this purpose as nobody is ready for loss and hence loss in the value; and had been raised not exactly for that. Only such lands where cultivation bargaining with the company is not commercial purpose but only to save is difficult or otherwise not so viable possible. the unused land from encroachment because of a number of reasons or unauthorized construction. Since (example, elephant menace as it Dhal and his associates have taken his the objective here is different hence boarders the Chandaka-Dompada uncle's land on lease @Rs.10000/acre/ care was probably not taken for sanctuary, and difficulty in arranging/ annum. As per his claim, the land healthy growth of the plants, i.e. it was affording agricultural labour) are being owner would have otherwise received not a professionally raised plantation utilized for this purpose as the owner almost the same income had he but a vaguely raised one. It was is secured of his income from this endeavoured to use the land for obvious that such a dense plantation almost trouble-free plantation. conventional agriculture. Now he will would not support any undergrowth, Although spacing is maintained and the earn this amount without any effort. atleast at the current stage. saplings are provided by the company They have made an agreement with (it could not be ascertained if this was him against the lease(it was not possible the same clonal sapling provided by to see the agreement paper). JK), he confidently claimed that the farmers would hardly be interested to Dhal said neither he nor others follow sell the timber (Eucalyptus) to the professional farming of Eucalyptus. paper mill (for instance, JK) because They only maintain the spacing, and they get a higher price that too in a ensure the security; no extra effort. Plantation to check encroachment way convenient to them, in the local This in fact attracts people to

32 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 CURRENT ISSUE

Eucalyptus entrepreneur, told me that he found a normal wild vegetative growth in his Eucalyptus plantation that cost his considerably(to clear). • In these parts of the coastal belt, paddy farming is still an intimate part of rural livelihood and culture; so people have not been A mixed crop of Eucalyptus near Ground of a young plantation patch Indumatipatana near Athagarh ready to divert their paddy lands for Eucalyptus. This is a good sign Eucalyptus farming as there is hardly people as agricultural labourers though unless the government any botheration. However, he also and pay the cost they demand the revises its policy and action plan admitted that intercrops like bhuineem cost of paddy production would it may not be too far in future to (Andrographis paniculata) can be be higher whereas marketing the see such lands converted into a successfully grown in such lands, paddy is not that much assuring. different land use. adding to the income. Needless to say, Relatively poor quality cultivable since people like him are not much lands, that would be well- The next opportunity to have some interested for intensive farming and productive with irrigation more clarity on the issue came almost prefer easy money hence they have development and agricultural unexpectedly in early August when I not gone for intercrops. inputs, either are deprived of such was on a visit to the Shimilipal area facilities/support, or the farmer through Bangiriposhi in the Suitable spacing of Eucalyptus trees has reasons to not avail the benefit Mayurbhanj district. I saw a patch of can favour growth/cultivation of of the relevant schemes mature Eucalyptus trees with a heavy many other species too. On the way implemented for this purpose, or undergrowth, and entered into that from Indumatipatana to Dompada one local agricultural authorities have patch to see what exactly was it. I can see in the roadside mixed crop not paid adequate attention to found the dominant species nothing (forest or plantation ?) other species make best use of such lands. but a common weed, but few other growing with Eucalyptus though the • Certain things regarding species were also noticed. Does it understorey seems to be dominated by Eucalyptus are still relevant for all suggest that Eucalyptus plantations invasive weeds and this is likely types of plantations. Like, this tree create environmental conditions in because of want of precaution doesn't normally attract faunal which weeds can sustain better and measures. biodiversity. have a rapid growth than other useful • However, certain other things indigenous species? I leave this question Interactions with him, alongwith other seem dependent on local for scientific verification and site analysis therefore suggest the conditions and practices. Like, comments. following: which species (clonal or not) one • Eucalyptus is getting promoted in has grown, the spacing, the private land because of the failure management practices(weeding, of the government policy to intercropping, etc.). Hence, secure and promote traditional whether undergrowth would be agriculture and agricultural land possible in Eucalyptus plantations use. Welfare schemes such as Two or not, and if possible, what would rupees rice have encouraged the be its characteristic; this depends poor to not opt for wage labour on such local practices. In fact, a unless otherwise required or relation of Dhal, who himself is The understorey in a plantation near lucrative. If one has to afford such an agricultural professional and Shimilipal

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 33 CURRENT ISSUE

A close up with the weeds in the plantation

But the most exciting part of my rapid appraisal gracefully and unexpectedly came a little later when we were passing The birds (myna) at ease on the tree Kuliona. There are a number of old avenue plantations of Eucalyptus trees Eucalyptus when some indigenous I would like to end this note with an on the roads near Baripada(the trees were nearby. Does it indicate a interesting information from the headquarter of Mayurbhanj district), process of Eucalyptus slowly getting autobiography of Sri A.N.Chaturvedi, and one such patch was near Kuliona. naturalized in India, as in the Nilgiris? IFS (retired), ‘Memoirs of A Forester’ While passing by that plantation I was (courtesy : Dr. H.D. Kulkarni). We trying to see if there were any bird My observations so far lead me to the know that Eucalyptus is preferred as a nests on the trees. Suddenly I saw not conclusion that the greater side of the fast growing economic species, but one but a series of such nests. These truth in Eucalyptus is that it marks a Chaturvedi went back to the history were of the common myna, locally negative deviation in the embracing of its large scale use in independent known as bani chadhei, whom we saw indigenous value system of the nation India and noted that when Indira near the nests. These birds seemed to that India is/was, but at the same time Gandhi was in power and her son be at ease with the Eucalyptus trees, a totally demonic projection of the Sanjay Gandhi was alive, a massive and it was a mystery why did they species would be ethically and plantation programme was choose to build their nests on scientifically unfair. commissioned by the government, and the Forest Department was required to supply the saplings in large numbers. Eucalyptus was found to be an easy plant to be raised in the nursery, and hence this species dominated the nurseries. Chatruvedi has also discussed the bad practices of planting Eucalyptus, has recommended to limit the number of plants to 1500 per hectare with 3 m × 2 m spacing with 8 to 9 years rotation period of harvesting, and has referred to some international conspiracy that allegedly funded an anti-Eucalyptus campaign. Although we are ahead of his times still his memoirs can be quite helpful to us for a judicious planning on afforestation The nest of common myna on Eucalyptus and reforestation. ² Bikash Rath

34 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 LAW & POLICY

Defining ‘forest’

How does the law define 'forest'? This But the Godavarman case also have more or less similar attributes. question has no direct answer as none highlighted the fact that significant What then about small patches of open of the Indian laws, including the Indian tracts of lands that were physically forests that have their own ecological Forest Act, 1927, the Forest forested had, due to some quirk of importance and potential to develop Conservation Act, 1980, and the Forest history or anomaly of admini- into a dense forest? Why can't such Rights Act, 2006 actually define stration, not been notified as RFs patches be termed as 'forest' ? 'forest'. As obvious, this major flaw had or PFs and hence were denied the to cause some major trouble one day "protection" of the FCA. The Hence, going by such dictionary or the other; and it was the apex court Supreme Court, in its landmark meanings may not actually be safe for of the country that had to face this order of December 12, 1996, our forests, our environment, our challenge and to find a solution to the sought to rectify this anomaly by forest rights, and also our political issue by simply accepting the stating that the FCA applied to "all economy. Against such an apprehen- dictionary definition of forest: areas that are forests in the sion therefore, the Ministry of dictionary meaning of the term Environment & Forest tried to come "The question being debated was irrespective of the nature of out with a meaningful solution: the scope of the Forest Conser- ownership and classification vation Act 1980(FCA). This Act, thereof" (Lele, 2007). "The definition being proposed by which itself is a water-shed in forest the MoEF has been formulated at governance in the country, requires However, the dilemma actually does the government's request by the that any conversion of forest land not get solved there, as the dictionary Bangalore-based Ashoka Trust for to non-forest uses (which are meanings/definitions vary. To quote a Research in Ecology and the defined in the Act) must be few: Environment. It defines a forest as approved by the central "an area notified as such in any act government (i e, MoEF). Conven- Free Online Dictionary: A dense or recorded as forests in any tionally, in the application of this growth of trees, plants, and underbrush government record". This excludes act, "forest land was assumed to be covering a large areaii. man-made plantations, fruit only that land which has been orchards and agroforestry tree legally notified as forest as per the Oxford dictionary: A large area crops on private and community- Indian Forest Act or state forest covered chiefly with trees and owned land. It also does away with acts, i e, typically Reserve or undergrowthiii the broad classification of forests as Protected Forest (RF or PF). understood by the dictionary Collin's dictionary: A large wooded meaning. Even this narrow interpretation of area having a thick growth of trees and the Act had slowed down and plantsiv Ritwick Dutta, coordinator of the often halted certain kinds of forest Lawyers Initiative for Forest and land conversions that state Each of these definitions has its own Environment, a Delhi-based NGO governments seemed to have limitations and/or dangers. The that lobbies for environmental mindlessly engaged in during definition given by the 'Free Online causes, says this narrower definition the1960s and 1970s. Dictionary' restricts 'forest' essentially will open forest land to commercial to 'large' areas with a 'dense growth' exploitation by business groups. of trees. Other dictionary meanings Says he: "Since this definition limits

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 35 LAW & POLICY

what a forest encompasses, it is only opposed the definition being per cent with trees with the going to help industries circumvent proposed by the Centre. However, potential to reach a minimum the due process of diverting forest an MOEF note on the subject says height of 2-5 metres at maturity in land and paying the required that applying the Forest situ. A forest may consist either of compensation. Then, what about Conservation Act to areas with closed forest formations where the many areas that may not be scanty tree growth is questionable trees of various storeys and notified as a forest but may still since it delays development of rural undergrowth cover a high qualify as one in the dictionary areas and that forests require a clear proportion of the ground or open sense?" definition given recent concerns forest. Young natural stands and all about climate change."(Dasgupta, plantations which have yet to reach The compensation a business house 2007v) a crown density of 10-30 per cent has to pay the government for or tree height of 2-5 metres are diverting forest land, known as Net RCDC's interest in reviewing the included under forest, as are areas Present Value or NPV, may range definition of forest was triggered during normally forming part of the forest from Rs 5.8 lakh to Rs 9.2 lakh per its research study on the implications area which are temporarily hectare. A dam that comes up in of the pulpwood plantations, some of unstocked as a result of human the Subansiri Valley of Arunachal which are registered as A/R CDM intervention such as harvesting or Pradesh, for example, can have an projects, in the state of Odisha. A/R natural causes but which are NPV as high as Rs 300 crore. Many CDM, or afforestation/reforestation expected to revert to forest; state governments see the diversion CDM is guided by the international b) "Afforestation" is the direct of forest land as a good source of Marrakesh Accord that defines human-induced conversion of land revenue. 'forest', 'afforestation', and that has not been forested for a 'deforestation', etc., of course for the period of at least 50 years to The ministry's initiative has also immediate purposes of CDM; but forested land through planting, been criticised for its redundancy. being an international accord it might seeding and/or the human-induced Following the Supreme Court's have far reaching implications. The promotion of natural seed sources; 1996 ruling on what constitutes a present author was particularly c) "Reforestation" is the direct forest, states were asked to form examining the grounds on the basis of human-induced conversion of committees to identify forests. which monoculture plantations of non-forested land to forested land "Many did that. Why does it have Eucalyptus were recognized as 'forest' through planting, seeding and/or to be done all over again?" asks whereas practically they lacked the the human-induced promotion of Dutta. Some also see this MOEF essential ecosystem attributes of a natural seed sources, on land that move as a counter to the Forest forest, atleast as per our local was forested but that has been Rights Act, 2006, that grants experiences. The Accord provides for converted to non-forested land. ownership of forest lands to that basis as an annexure to its chapter For the first commitment period, traditional forest dwellers. The Act 'K' on 'Matters related to land use, reforestation activities will be has been passed by Parliament but land use change, and forestry', as limited to reforestation occurring has not been notified so far. under: on those lands that did not contain forest on 31 December 1989; When contacted by Outlook, the A. Definitions d) "Deforestation" is the direct MOEF offered no comments on 1. For land use, land-use change and human-induced conversion of its initiative. It maintains that a forestry activities under Articles1 3.3 forested land to non-forested land; "definite description has not yet and 3.4, the following definitions shall e) "Revegetation" is a direct human- materialised and (that) the apply: induced activity to increase carbon consultative process is on". Also, a) "Forest" is a minimum area of land stocks on sites through the forests, being on the concurrent list, of 0.05-1.0 hectares with tree establishment of vegetation that have to be discussed with the states. crown cover (or equivalent covers a minimum area of 0.05 Some of them, it is learnt, have stocking level) of more than 10-30 hectares and does not meet the

36 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 LAW & POLICY

definitions of afforestation and Tree crown cover value between 1.0 hectares, with tree crown reforestation contained here; 10 and 30%: 15% or equivalent cover (or equivalent stocking f) "Forest management" is a system stocking level level) of more than 10-30 per of practices for stewardship and use cent with trees with the potential of forest land aimed at fulfilling Land area value between 0.05 to reach a minimum height of 2- relevant ecological (including and 1 hectare: 0.05 ha 5 metres at maturity in situ. A biological diversity), economic and forest may consist either of closed social functions of the forest in a Tree height value between 2 and forest formations where trees of sustainable manner; 5 meters: 2 meters”. various storeys and undergrowth g) "Cropland management" is the cover a high proportion of the system of practices on land on As per the Indian Designated National ground or open forest. Young which agricultural crops are grown Authority, forests are thus defined as natural stands and all plantations and on land that is set aside or under: conforming to the afore-said temporarily not being used for crop “'Forest' is a minimum area of compatibility, which have yet to production; land of 0.05 hectares with tree reach a crown density of 10-30 h) "Grazing land management" is the crown cover (or equivalent per cent or tree height of 2-5 system of practices on land used for stocking level) of more than 15 metres are included under forest, livestock production aimed at per cent with trees with the as are areas normally forming manipulating the amount and type potential to reach a minimum part of the forest area which are of vegetation and livestock height of 2 metres at maturity in temporarily unstocked as a result produced(UNFCCC, undated ). situ" (Section A.7, Project Design of human intervention such as Document of Patneswari Agri- harvesting or natural causes but The Government of India through its Cooperative Limited, dated 13- which are expected to revert to National CDM Authority submitted to 2-2012) forest; UNFCCC to revise the 'Country Forest b) "Afforestation" is the direct Definition for CDM A/R Projects' as Striking however even this submission human-induced growth and/or under: completely ignored to give due dignity enrichment of the forest flora that to forests. It limited itself only to helps regain and/or maintain/ “In the light of several changes specifying the physical parameters, and sustain the forest ecosystem, proposed for determining the did not raise any objection to the through planting, seeding and/or eligibility of land for CDM A/R cursory definition of forest given in the the human-induced promotion of Projects {EB 22 (Annex 16) Marrakesh Accord. natural seed sources for species through EB26 (Annex 18) which compatible with the larger was later put on hold by the We therefore suggest below our ecosystem dynamics on the COP12/MOP2}, and EB35 versions of how the Marrakesh concerned locality. For the Annex18, India, considering its definitions should be revised, as under purposes of CDM, it will be national circumstances feels that just to initiate a thoughtful and limited to conversion of land, that it needs to revise its definition of meaningful dialogue on the same: has not been forested for a period CDM forest communicated a) "Forest" is a vegetative ecosystem, of at least 50 years, to forested earlier to CDM EB by the DNA essentially and fully compatible land. in respect of CDM A/R Projects. with the local natural ecological c) "Reforestation" is the direct dynamics and nourishing the human-induced conversion of Taking into account practical other ecological and non-forested land to forested considerations of the national environmental elements at local- land, to regain the lost forest circumstances, the Government , regional, and global level ecosystem of a locality, through of India proposes following depending upon its size and planting, seeding and/or the revised country definition of capacity, and for CDM purposes human-induced promotion of CDM forest in a minimum area of land of 0.05- natural seed sources for species

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 37 LAW & POLICY

compatible with the larger matter; and if required, necessary legal reflects what are the other flaws ecosystem dynamics of the interventions at national and associated with current CDM concerned locality, on land that international levels should also be mechanism that are likely to lead to was forested but that has been attempted if the governments are further complications with this converted to non-forested land. found to be still ignoring. recommendation: For the first commitment period, reforestation activities will be Interestingly, in a recent development “The panel recommends to allow limited to reforestation occurring the high-level panel on CDM has Reducing Emissions from on those lands that did not contain recommended for extending CDM's Deforestation and Forest forest on 31 December 1989. benefits to REDD+ on pilot basis taking Degradation (REDD) and other d) "Deforestation" is the direct into consideration both the potential forest management pilot activities human-induced reduction of benefits and the risks thereof. The in the CDM, despite the fact that forest stock by 40% or more, panel has pointed out that currently REDD has long been identified as which if not checked effectively CDM doesn't include any other land unsuitable for a project based can lead to conversion of forested use, land-use change, and forestry mechanism. The report identifies land to non-forested land; activities other than afforestation and only a very limited set of risks reforestation (A/R CDM) whereas associated with such projects and Of course, the specified date(s) in these activities other than A/R CDM also ignores key issues and risks definitions may change according to have the potential to contribute to discussed in the UNFCCC and the commitment periods, but the global climate change mitigation relevant literature, such as non- essence of the approach and stand on measures (CDM Policy Dialogue, permanence of emission forest must remain unchanged. 2012). Although not mentioned by the reductions, establishing crediting Panel, this logic does seem to have some baselines, carbon leakage, As regards the other related definitions truth in itself particularly in view of demonstrating additionality or in the Accord, we find that more or the fact that by protecting and impacts on biodiversity (CDM less adequate and hence do not suggest conserving the existing natural forest, Watch Network, 2012)”. any significant changes therein. It is by stopping deforestation activity and however high time that the Marrakesh securing a health regeneration for The present author however observes definitions be reviewed by the revival of the lost forest the concerned that the real culprit in the matter is international governments for authorities/communities not only help authetication and further substantia- ensuring environmental justice, and in mitigating the emission level but also tion as well as validation of the diluted organizations such as IUFRO should save (or can save) the area from morale that makes human responsi- come out with strong advocacy plantations of alien/ecologically- bility and virtues increasingly market- agenda to facilitate this process. Not incompatible species. Further, the based and market-oriented, be it that the issue has not been ever overall benefits of such activities are REDD+, CDM, and a REDD+ - discussed earlier(one can refer for much more broader, holistic, and inclusive CDM. The high-level panel example to the protest by several sustainable than that of A/R CDM. on CDM did not discuss or mention organizations on this issue in the However, the basic flaw that lies with the basic flaws, rather it emphacised climate change conference at Ponzan the definition of 'forest' has to be on market dynamics and considered in 2008 at http://www.redd- removed first before considering other things from market-point of view. It is monitor.org/2008/12/17/forest- relevant dynamics for a review and therefore obvious that the definition-challenged-in-poznan/ and revision. CDM Watch, the non- recommendation for incorporating to the implications of the erroneous government organization that keeps REDD+ under CDM will create new definitions on REDD+ at http:// vigil on the CDM-related activities, concerns and issues than hopes, www.redd-monitor.org/2009/09/08/ policies and developments, has particularly when REDD+ itself has so redd-will-fail-with-the-current- condemned the Panel's recommend- far not been able to overcome its definition-of-forest/), but we must ation to include REDD+ under CDM controversial status and complications. effort for some effective solution to the with the following statement that ² Bikash Rath

38 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 LAW & POLICY

References 1. Lele, Sharachchandra(2007). A 'defining moment' for forests?. Economic & Political Weekly, June 23. http:// atree.academia.edu/SharadLele/Papers/570291/A_defining_moment_for_forests 2. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/forest 3. http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/forest 4. http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/forest 5. Dasgupta, Debarshi (2007). Lumbarjack's Law. The Outlook magazine, 17 December. http:// www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?236267 6. UNFCCC(undated). The Marrakesh Accord & the Marrakesh Declaration (draft). unfccc.int/cop7/documents/ accords_draft.pdf 7. http://cdm.unfccc.int/DNA/cdf/files/2008/0707_india.pdf 8. CDM Policy Dialogue(2012). Climate Change, Carbon Markets, and the CDM: A Call to Action. Pp.27-28. http:/ /www.cdmpolicydialogue.org/report/rpt110912.pdf 9. CDM Watch Network(2012). CDM High Level Panel's recommendations do not deliver. Press release. Received through e-mail dated 10 September 2012 Odisha’s achievements in afforestation/plantation activities

The Economic Survey of Odisha, published for 2011-12 by the Planning & Coordination Department, Government of Odisha provides a rosy picture of different developmental activities and achievements in the state including that for afforestation/plantation activities, as under: • Compensatory afforestation: During 2010-11, 5164.156 ha has been covered under compensatory plantation, 1.5 ha safety zone plantation and special plantation. There is a target of covering 5544.4875 ha during 2011-12. • Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project(OFSDP): During 2010-11, afforestation over 78294 ha was taken up. • Medicinal plants: In 2009-10 and 2010-11, 361 ha of Dasamoola species plantation in Bolangir, Bargarh and Sambalpur(N) Forest Division and 465 ha of Ashoka plantation in Khurdha, Keonjhar, Baripada and Karanjia Forest Division have been taken up. • MGNREGS: During 2010-11, about 13921 lak seedlings have been planted for raising 9538 ha of afforestation and 241 km of avenue plantations. Source: Government of Odisha: Planning & Coordination Department. Economic Survey 2011-12, pp.99-100 Programme/project-wise statistics of achievements in afforestation/plantation activities (2009-10 and 2010-11) Name of the Programme Area covered in hectares 2009-10 2010-11 Economic plantation 3909 1800 RLTAP in KBK districts 3491 3650 Compensatory afforestation 2898 4285 National Afforestation Programme through Forest Development Agencies 14980 2784 Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (assisted by Japan government) 51735 78220 Industrial plantation 295 290 Support to VSS 611 12071 National Bamboo Mission 774 1040 NREGS and other schemes 12316 9543 Avenue plantation (running kilometres or RKMs) 133 241 Total 91003 ha & 113683 ha & 133 RKMs 241 RKMs Source: Government of Odisha: Planning & Coordination Department. Economic Survey 2011-12, Annexure 3.53

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 39 ROLE MODELS

Community initiatives in mangrove conservation

The super-cyclone of 1999 convinced The erstwhile Kanika zamindary, now tried to enrich the plantation. The the local communities of Odisha coast a part of the Kendrapada district, was Forest Department saw their successful about the protective strength of the a mangrove paradise before initiative, provided them support in mangroves or the tidal forests. independence. The heritage has now this work, and formed a VSS in the Unfortunately by that time a large part been confined to the Bhitarkanika village. Now, it has turned to be a of such natural forests had already National Park by and large. promising mangrove forest in about been denuded/cleared because of Praharajpur is a village in the Rajnagar 150 acres of land which the villagers anthropogenic activities including Block of this district where the river have been protecting through a day- industrial and other related Gangua used to swallow parts of the patroling system (Personal establishments including the Paradeep village which is why, after being urged communication, Sri Rabindra Behera). port. A major reason leading to the for protective measures by the They are investing on the protection destruction of these valuable villagers, the government diverted the and development of this patch from ecological assets has been the highly river course. This not only saved the the money realized from community erroneous government system which village, but also created lands(mud flats pisciculture and donations from placed a number of such patches under ?) where the local Youth Association individual households during their the Revenue Department that was least members decided to carry out some family functions. People of the village sensitive to their conservation and plantation activities. In 1997, they have been told that instead of spending hence did not care for non-forest uses brought seeds of few mangrove species the money for giving a feast on the of the same. like Bani (Avicennia spp.), Sundari occasion of marriage or other such (Heritiera fomes), and Keruan ceremonies, better contribute to the The limited efforts in limited areas for (Sonneratia apetala) and just sowed the village fund which is used for the restoring the mangrove forests same in that land. Although the effort maintenance & development of two included plantation activities which was but partially successful, by the major community assets: the village was a difficult task as mangrove species time of the supercyclone in 1999 the temple and the mangrove forest. have not been normally found quite plants were abut 5 feet high and the adaptable to plantations. Still, some of villagers could see how it reduced the Cases such as that of Inkiria do suggest such efforts have proved to be a success. impact of tidal surges. Inspired, they that one cannot or should not just wait for natural regeneration of mangroves in the deforested areas because it may take a long time to find any substantial natural regeneration, and in the climate change perspective also it is not advisable to wait for such a long time, that too with uncertainty. Hence, plantations or afforestation/ reforestation activity is required in such cases.

The mangrove forest of Praharajpur. Snapshot taken from RCDC-produced short Chilika area once had a good growth film 'Praharajpur' made by Lucky Media. of mangroves which has now been lost.

40 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 ROLE MODELS

In 2000, after the Chilika Development review, and follow up, as suggested in Bhadrak districts under the Authority opened a new mouth near the media report. Odisha Forestry Sector Sipakuda village the villagers became Development Project while vulnerable to tidal surge. A non- In a recent move the government has another 3,000 hectare was government organization made a further planned to increase the area augmented in Mahanadi Delta, noble attempt to save the Sipakuda under mangrove cover through Bhitarkanika and the Devi river villagers by raising mangrove plantations, as reported by the media: mouths. The Government has also plantations in 2004-05 initially in 2 planned to regulate pisciculture acres of land through community “The Mangrove Action Commi- and agriculture along the river involvement. This plantation was a ttee of the State Government has ends. Since most of these success whereas inspired by it similar recommended mangrove livelihood activities are carried out plantations that were taken up by the plantation over 500 hectare in near rivers where saline water Forest Department in 2006-07 at Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi inundation takes place, it affects places like Sanapatana, Mirzapur, and Delta in Kendrapara and mangrove forests adversely. Arakuda, etc. over about 35 acres of Jagatsinghpur districts. Similarly, District-level committees will be land did not succeed except for that in plantation over another 500 constituted to tackle growth of Sanapatana (The Dharitri, 2012). Of hectares in Balasore and Bhadrak such activities.(The New Indian course there are natural factors that will also be taken up during Express, 2012)”. control the success of such plantations, 2012-13. but proper planning, and sincere care However, this initiative must carefully & protection are also essential for their In the last five years, mangrove take into consideration the past failures success. Probably the local authorities plantation has been taken up over and poor rates of success. At the same did not make such a sincere planning, 2,500 hectares in Balasore and time it should duly honor the community initiatives like that of Praharajpur through a revised model of participatory forest conservation and management in the light of the FRA guidelines and Amendment Rules of 2012. Conventional bureaucratic approaches to community stake in forest conservation and development need a paradigm shift, and this is more urgent for sensitive and vulnerable initiatives such as mangrove plantations. ² This creek-side deforested patch near Inkiria in the Kendrapada district doesn't show any substantial regeneration of mangrove forest. Bikash Rath

References 1. The Dharitri (2012). Srusti Hoi Paruni Luna Jangala. 14th September, Bhubaneswar edition. 2. The New Indian Express (2012). Mangrove Plantation in Four Districts, 2nd August. http://newindianexpress.com/ states/odisha/article581467.ece 3. Pattanaik, C. et al (2008). Utilization of Mangrove Species in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Orissa. In. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, Vol. 7(4), October 2008. http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/2388/1/ IJTK%207(4)%20598-603.pdf

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 41 CONSERVATION

Rights for resource cause : A case of Siarimalia

Bamboo is a lucrative non-timber October 1988, bamboo was declared not of the quality they required, which forest product and life sustenance item as a nationalized item, and its manage- is why instead of depending on the for the poor artisans in particular and ment, price fixation, harvesting etc. rest government system they had to communities in general. For a long with the authorized government manage their raw material period it was treated as a 'tree' because agency (OFDC) which then shared this procurement in some other way. of a provision in the Indian Forest Act, privilege with the paper mills of the Communities, who protected and 1927 to that effect; and hence the state treating them as 'raw material conserved pure or mixed bamboo harvesting of bamboo, particularly the procurer' as per the industrial policy forests, continued to exercise their self- forest bamboo, was regulated under of the state . Bamboo artisans were recognized rights to harvest bamboos several restrictions. After indepen- entitled for a fixed quantity of bamboo in such forests though the Forest dence, the situation remained more or in a year at a concessional price, but Department did not recognize this less unaltered in Odisha. On 1st the bamboo supplied to them was often 'right'.

The notice board erected by the Siarimalia village forest committee

42 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 CONSERVATION

Siarimalia village of Reamal Block in spend a substantially longer time in village, there is no special provision for the Deogarh district of Odisha had such finding and getting their required them; but request of the artisans of forest protection and management quantity of bamboo. This led to gradual neighbouring villages for bamboo is regime that yielded good results to the imposition of certain restrictions, considered favourably. Grazing inside forest dependent communities. Gagua particularly on local users. Extraction the bamboo forest is prohibited in the Reserve Forest in the Khilei GP of of bamboo shoot or kardi, which is a rainy season as bamboo shoots come Reamal spreads over 125 hectares of popular traditional food in the region, out of the ground during that season. area out of which 60 hectares are of was an important reason for depletion bamboo. The villagers of Siarimalia of the bamboo stock; so restriction was The money collected from forest as constituted a committee to protect and initially imposed on large scale income is spent on village development manage this forest. The community extraction of kardi for business activities and in community festivals. attention for protection and purposes. Now, kardi collection is conservation of bamboo in particular almost totally prohibited by the In the year 2006, Van Samrakshna was developed in 1980s when they community. The villagers of Siarimalia Samiti was constituted in the village found that indiscriminate exploitation were required to pay Rs.2 per piece of under the JFM programme, and Jugal of the resource, both by paper mills bamboo earlier which has now Kishore Pradhan became the President and the local users, had reduced the increased to Rs.3 whereas the outsiders of that committee. Bhimasen Sahoo, previously rich stock in the forest to have to pay a hiked price of Rs.5 per the then forester was the Secretary of such a low level that people had to piece. As there are no artisans in the this VSS as per the JFM guideline. As

Marking in bamboo clump by the villagers one of whom is seen tying a sacred thread or rakhi to a plant.

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 43 CONSERVATION per the MoU, forest development, regulations and are (now) restrained Bamboo has multiple uses for the rural management and benefit sharing etc. from the benefit sharing!", exclaimed communities. People in and around should be in consultation with the Bholeswar. Siarimalia use bamboos for making village executive committee, but there fences, baskets, and in house building, were no such consultation with the In 2011, after knowing from RCDC etc.. Now, the communities are executive committee or general body that they were entitled for 100% right realizing that the Department is from 2006, says Ganapati Pradhan, a over the harvested bamboo being a playing foul in the plea of JFM. vigilant community forester of the VSS, the villagers lodged a formal village and presently President of the complaint with Dr. Aravind Behera, Regional Centre for Development District Forestry Forum, Deogarh. then the Commissioner cum Secretary, Cooperation has been trying to Forest and Environment Department strengthen the community forestry Bholeswar Pradhan, President of the who immediately asked the concerned initiatives here as this village is a Village Development Committee of DFO to enquire about the matter. The SFM(sustainable forest management) Siarimalia further informs that the DFO did a follow up with information village under the Oxfam India support. Forest Department have been leasing to the VSS that they were entitled to Now, RCDC has planned to establish out the bamboo forest as a coup to the receive approx. Rs.14,000/- against the community's right over bamboo in paper mill(s), and the villagers worked deal, but expressed helplessness in 100 villages in four of its operational just as labourers for the harvesting actually ensuring the payment of this districts in Odisha, i.e, Nayagarh, work. In 2010, the coupe was leased amount showing reason that it did not Deogarh, Kalahandi and Bolangir. The out to Ballarpur Industries Ltd. and seem feasible to recover the already interesting fact is that the Department without consulting the village spent(by the Department ?) amount. is violating its own policy and guideline committee about 11,000 bundles of When the aggrieved villagers stopped so far as bamboo management is bamboo were cut there though it the paper mill's agent to lift the concerned. There is a distinct policy belonged to the area protected by the bamboo from their area, they received and practice gap with regard to community. As per the provision of Rs.5000/- from the concerned person bamboo management at the village the government, the bamboo sale after which they allowed the level. proceeds received by OFDC after transportation, but this was not the deducting the agent commission should money the Department was to pay Siarimalia has applied for community be handed over to the VSS in the form them. claim under the Forest Rights Act of a draft. Out of this money, the VSS 2006. Section 2 of the FRA defines the should plough back some amount for The Siarimalia villagers have several MFP and section 3 of the Act provides bamboo management and this complaints against the Department. for ownership rights over the NTFP management plan should be a part and First of all, they have seen how which includes collection, trans- parcel of the VSS micro plan and unsustainable exploitation and lack of portation, storing, value addition and bamboo working plan, vide the adequate silvicultural operations have selling of the MFPs including bamboo. Government letter no: Affn. 1/2005 - reduced the production by about 80- 8525 F&E, dated 24 May 2006. 90%. Secondly, they feel that against The FRA Amendment Rule 2012 has However, the villagers were unaware substantial the cost of labour which added another dynamics to the of this provision; and taking advantage they contribute in rendering protection management of MFP including of their ignorance there was no sharing to the forest by daily patrolling (four bamboo. It has clarified that disposal of the sale proceeds with them. "The persons) is yet to be duly compensated of MFP under clause (c) of subsection Forest Department behaves as if they by the government through proper 1 of section 3 shall include right to sell are unaware about transferring the benefit sharing. Thirdly, they feel as well as individual or collective money to VSS. The forester is playing betrayed that the Department did not processing, storage, value addition, and hide and seek with the people. We, the consult them before allowing the transportation within and outside people of Siarimalia have protected the harvesting operation by the paper forest area through locally appropriate bamboo forest with rules and mill. means of transport for use of such

44 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 CONSERVATION produce or sale by gatherers or by their ownership of bamboo is retained with of the depletion of bamboo resources. cooperatives for livelihood. the village. This is their resource and The Forest Department has not been they will protect, manage and found to be sincere enough to check It further states that the transit permit conserve this resource for their use and this resource depletion which affected regime in relation to transport of MFP access. Henceforward, the Forest the community adversely. Although shall be modified and given by the Department has nothing to do with the for some years a parallel system committee constituted under clause (e) bamboo. A letter to this effect, along prevailed in the area with both the of sub rule (1) of rule 4 or the person with a copy of the resolution, has been Department and the communities authorized by the Gramsabha. This forwarded to the Sarapancha and the exercising their stake in the same forest procedural requirement of transit Range Officer in Reamal. in their own ways, now the villagers permit in no way shall restrict or have decided to put things completely abridge the right to disposal of MFP. The villagers in Siarimalia are under their control; and they are practicing Sustainable Forest justified in that. This Amendment Rule has given a new Management activities in their claimed hope and strength to the forest CFR(community forest resource) area. This article is based on inputs/ protecting communities and the They have identified the causes of information from Sri Bholeswar traditional forest dwellers. In a recent resource degradation, planned Pradhan, Sri Ghasiram Panda, and meeting in the village, the villagers have accordingly to restore the resources, Sri Ananda Sethi. made a resolution that they will not and have taken some measures in the ² allow the company/Department to field to that effect. Unsustainable Pravat Mishra take the bamboo from their forest harvesting and indiscriminate grazing Programme Manager, SFM (RCDC) (under the present situation). The followed by theft are the major factors Email : [email protected]

Editorial comment

The JFM resolution of 1993 in Odisha provided for 50% share of the JFM committee/village in the major harvest of timber, and the VSS members were allowed to collect all kinds of minor forest produce free of cost from such forest on the condition that they would be liable to dispose of all nationalized minor forest produce only to the authorized agency. Unfortunately, a mention to 'bamboo' was lacking in this provision and taking advantage of this lacuna officers of the Forest Department treated bamboo at par with timber as per the Indian Forest Act, and acknowledged only 50% share of the VSS in the major harvest of bamboo. This created financial loss and other troubles for bamboo-rich VSSs. Harvesting of thorny bamboo required higher investment and in that case 50% sharing did not seem viable. The present editor then working in a different capacity and with a different organisation strategically filed an application under RTI asking the Forest Department to clarify on its stand on benefit sharing for bamboo under JFM. It does not seem to be a mere coincidence that few months after this application was filed the government issued a circular clarifying that the VSS is entitled for 100% benefit in the sale proceeds of bamboo. However, this important decision was not communicated properly/widely which is why even many of the Departmental officials lacked knowledge about that, not to speak of the VSSs. This meant that the VSS in many areas could not demand their due share.

Now, the Forest Rights Act has almost overturned the position legally as it mandates of ownership of traditional forest dwellers over the traditionally collected MFPs including bamboo. Thus, nationalization and state trading of bamboo is now legally questionable though a state-sponsored centralized procurement and marketing system in the interest and on behalf of the owner communities may still be a requirement. Sri Jairam Ramesh, the previous minister for Forest & Environment wrote to the states to comply with the mandate of FRA in the context of bamboo, but it was ignored. With the FRA Amendment Rules, 2012 however things have become more binding for the government, and let us see to what extent this is honoured.

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 45 ECO-COMMERCE

The CDM Market

CDM is essentially a market-based based mechanisms, the European to gain from CDM projects. mechanism in which CER is the Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) Accordingly, by 2012 these states will instrument for marketing. The more and the CDM are on the brink of have a potential of Rs.1,000 crore for the CER, the greater is the turnover; collapse. The economic crisis in carbon trading. Odisha's share out of but this too is subject to market Europe has lead to a dramatic decline it was expected to be around Rs.250 fluctuations. in CO2 emissions. As a result, the crore. Power, steel and chemical, demand for allowances has fallen and mining, transport and agriculture "The CDM allows emission-reduction prices have dropped. In 2011, the sectors are the high potential areas projects in developing countries to price for EU-ETS allowances fell by eligible for this (The Business earn certified emission reduction (CER) about half, to around €7. Because the Standard,2007). credits, each equivalent to one tonne EU is also the largest buyer of CDM of CO2. These CERs can be traded and offsets (CERs), the prices of CERs have The State Pollution Control Board sold, and used by industrialized also dropped significantly to around (SPCB) in Odisha has estimated about countries to a meet a part of their €4. The reason there is no demand for 82 million tonnes of CO2 is emitted emission reduction targets under the credits is that most countries have made from energy generation and major Kyoto Protocol".(UNFCCC, undated) very weak mitigation pledges. They industrial and mining activities. As its simply will not need many credits to report on "Green House Gas The larger unit of CER is the kCER meet their commitments. So who will Inventory of Orissa from Energy and which implies to total reduction buy credits from new market-based Industry Sector - A Quick Estimation" recognized in officially sellable mechanisms, if there is no demand for suggests, "Out of the total emission, 68 Certified Emission Reduction issued by the existing ones? Some people argue per cent emission takes place in

UNFCCC in 1000 tons of CO2 that having new market-based thermal power generation and 14 per equivalent. mechanisms will motivate countries to cent is generated from iron making take on more stringent pledges because process through blast furnace and DRI An analysis of the CDM market value they will be able to meet those pledges kilns sponge iron facilities," while in 2007 suggested it at nearly $20 with cost-efficient market-based "processes associated with iron and billion, and some analysts said global credits. But if there is already an steel making, like sintering, carbon trading has the potential to oversupply of cheap credits, why aren't pelletisation, coke making contribute reach some $100 billion by 2020. The countries upping their pledges now?" three per cent of the total emission. bulk of global demand for CDM Aluminium smelting and ferro-alloy carbon credits (CER) comes from The future of carbon markets production contribute two per cent companies participating in the therefore appears uncertain now, each. In non-industrial sector transport European emissions trading scheme - reported Anja Kollmus, a Carbon contributes seven per cent of the total the 27-nation bloc's main policy tool Market Expert of CDM-Watch in her emission". The Board finds that energy to help member states meet their e-mail dated 8th May 2012 to the and industry sector in Odisha international and regional targets. network members. contributed about six per cent to the However, uncertainty prevails over national emission. However, these both demand for credits and how a After China, India is the major CDM estimations carried out in the said future UN offsetting scheme might be player in Asia. A seminar on Clean report were made on the basis of shaped after 2012 (First Climate, 2011). Development Mechanism (CDM) installed capacities of respective organized by Confederation of Indian industrial units. (The Hindu, 2011). As reported by CDM-Watch, Industry (CII)-Odisha discussed the "currently, the two largest market- potential in the eastern states of India

46 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 ECO-COMMERCE

Internal rate of return (IRR) is a vital inherent flaw in the carbon market or because the permissible limits have consideration for taking up projects in CDM itself, but because of an been higher than that should be ideally: under CDM where solid waste undermined demand of carbon market management (methane recovery) has mechanism. This obviously is like " xxx developed countries have made a high IRR (The Business Standard, saying, 'obesity is an outcome of not very weak emissions reduction pledges 2007). Carbon as a compliant any (our) lavish lifestyle, but of the for 2020. Together with lenient rules commodity has also been listed in the reduced capacity of the body to cope on the use of offsets, they will be able commodity exchange making the with the changing lifestyle'. to emit 3.6 billion tonnes of CO2 more trading of carbon units more attractive. than they are projected to emit under The falling prices in carbon market business-as-usual (BAU) emissions Expecting ups & downs in each and have another complimentary projections until 2020."(Kollmuss, every business is quite normal, but a dynamics, that have become another 2012) superficial or wrongly-oriented major source of concern for the business is vulnerable to collapse any carbonomical analysts. Countries The result of such an inherent fraud time. Carbon trading seems to be a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol have would be obvious. It may lead to a business of the second category, and accumulated a huge surplus of AAUs significant downfall in the carbon the apprehensions of its collapse in near (Assigned Amount Units, the tradable price, thereby further destabilizing the future have increased substantially. emission permit under the Kyoto already vulnerable carbon market Protocol. One AAU allows a country where the price has already dropped The High-level Panel on CDM, that to emit greenhouse gases equivalent to to less than one euro per tonne. Anja submitted its report recently, made the 1 metric tonne of CO ) that they have Kollmuss, carbon market expert at 2 first authentic statement on the generated by underutilizing the CDM Watch therefore predicts that decreasing trend of carbon market permissible limit of emission "The current lack of commitment will based on a 'Thomson Reuters Point (Anonymous, 2012). That is to say, likely eliminate the chances of an Carbon' data, with the following they have done a good work by ambitious global climate deal." She words: emitting less than the level allowed to adds further, "It is difficult to see how them, and hence are entitled for the rich countries could convince poorer Unfortunately, the CDM is imperilled. allowance against the unutilized units nations to commit to meaningful Carbon prices in the CDM market of emission; but the amount of such emission cuts if their own pledges are have declined 70% in the past year units, as estimated by Point Carbon, is so paltry and the loopholes so gigantic. alone and are projected to fall further. about 17 billion tonnes by 2020 Without immediate action from Why? Mitigation targets are so modest (Anonymous, 2012) which the developed countries committing to that they no longer create strong international climate deal is obliged to real emissions cuts our chances of incentives for private international honor, and to honor such a huge avoiding dangerous climate change will investment and local action in obligation would mean high risk to the likely be lost." (Kollmuss, 2012) developing nations. And many viability of the climate deal itself countries with mitigation targets have because there is likely to be a crisis in The situation is now worsened with the not linked the implementation of their encashing these surplus units due to decision of the European Union (the targets to use of the CDM. The lack of want of buyers. It may be mentioned largest buyer of carbon credits) to only demand has resulted in a sizeable here that countries who have a allow carbon credits from new CDM overhang of credits from the CDM, negative surplus, i.e. whose emission projects registered after 2012 if they which may suffice to meet expected levels are higher than the permission are located in Least Developed levels of demand until at least 2020, limit, can buy the AAUs to adjust their Countries. This means that CDM even if no new projects are approved deviations. But marketing these units projects located in all other countries beyond those operating or already in profitably is a secondary issue (though (including large CDM host countries the pipeline.(CDM Policy Dialogue, it may appear to be a priority). The like India and China) will not be able 2012) real concern is, such a huge surplus is to sell their carbon credits anymore to being created, apart from the impact the EU if they miss the 2012 However, it states next that the of economic recession that led to registration deadline (Coiley, 2012). declining price is not because of any decreased industrial activity, mainly

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 47 ECO-COMMERCE

Now, let us examine the status of A/R As per the information available on the makes the return prospects for these CDM. The UNEP Resoe Centre has UNFCC website on the respective projects quite vulnerable, but as their estimated that of the total 994936 projects, JK's A/R CDM project core strength is the timber and not the kCERs issued, only 4072(0.4%) belong (Andhra-Odisha) was projected to carbon profit, hence they are not to the A/R CDM sector, as on 1st have a reduction of 324269 MTCO2 e supposed to be affected much under September 2012(UNEP Resoe Centre, per annum whereas MTPL's multistate this situation. 2012). In fact, the share of A/R CDM A/R CDM project is expected to reduce ² in the CDM market has been very low 146998 MT CO2 e and PACL's A/R from the beginning itself and the profile CDM project, 7329 MT CO2 e only. A Bikash Rath still continues to be low. collapsing CDM market definitely

References 1. Anonymous(2012). Carbon Trading Scheme Close to Collapse. E-mail circulation dated 16th September by Vijay Baratiya Rita Ray. 2. CDM Policy Dialogue(2012). Climate Change, Carbon Markets, and the CDM: A Call to Action. p.18. http:// www.cdmpolicydialogue.org/report/rpt110912.pdf 3. Coiley, Andrew(2012). 2012 Registration Showdown. E-mail dated 15-10-12. CDM Watch Network 4. First Climate (2011). First Climate in Point Carbon: Kyoto carbon credit buyers need post-2012 agreement for price guidance, http://www.firstclimate.com/press-events/news-details/article/2008/05/02/first-climate-in-point- carbon-kyoto-carbon-credit-buyers-need-post-2012-agreement-for-price-guidanc.html 5. Kollmus, Anja(2012). New study shows Kyoto Protocol surplus of emission permits threatens future climate deal. E-mail dtd. 13th September 2012. CDM Watch Network. 6. The Business Standard (2007). Huge potential in carbon trading for eastern states. August 13, 2007. http:// www.business-standard.com/india/news/huge-potential-in-carbon-trading-for-eastern-states/294327/ 7. The Hindu (2011). 68 p.c. emission of CO2 takes place in thermal power generation: report. http://www.hindu.com/ 2011/02/16/stories/2011021661330300.htm 8. The Business Standard(2012). Indian paper industry eyes 7 % growth by next year. 1st March 2012. http:// www.business-standard.com/india/news/indian-paper-industry-eyes-7growth-by-next-year/466272/ 9. UNEP Resoe Centre(2012). CDM projects grouped in types. http://www.cdmpipeline.org/cdm-projects-type.htm. Accessed 27th September 2012 10. UNFCCC (undated). About CDM. http://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html Ethiopian forest project gets UN carbon credits

LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters Point Carbon) - The U.N. has issued carbon credits to a reforestation project in Ethiopia, the second time tree planting has received emission reductions. The project in the village of Humbo, Ethiopia, which was approved by the U.N. almost three years ago, was last Friday awarded 73,000 carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for restoring vegetation cover to degraded land. The offsets, called temporary Certified Emissions Reductions (tCERs), were bought by the World Bank's BioCarbon Fund, which invests in around 20 forest and land-use schemes. "(All) revenue is being reinvested in ... paying for micro businesses such as beekeeping, livestock husbandry and the construction of a flour mill and grain storage facility, replacing traditional activities such as fuel collection, earlier the main source of income for many Humbo residents," the World Bank said in a statement. With credit prices treading around 1.75 euros each, near their all-time lows, sale proceeds are unlikely to top 130,000 euros ($167,300). The issuance comes six months after the U.N. handed out a mammoth 4.1 million tCERs to the Plantar reforestation initiative in Brazil. Under the rules of the CDM, tCERs are issued to forestry projects to account for the fact that carbon sinks are not considered permanent. Use of the credits are banned under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, a main source of demand for U.N.-backed offsets. Planting trees is seen as a cheap way to slow global growth of greenhouse gas emissions and last month U.N. advisors recommended allowing projects that stop logging of trees to earn carbon credits under the CDM. Currently, the Executive Board of the CDM has been slow to approve afforestation/reforestation projects because of the complexity in proving the scale of emissions reductions from business as usual. Almost 90 projects in the sector are at auditing stage and beyond, 40 of which are registered by the U.N.

(Source: http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.2015883?&ref=searchlist )

48 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 LIVELIHOOD

Indigenous health practices of the Mankidias

Background of the Study for their health care needs. Over one 1971).The Mankidias belong to the The tribal communities in India and half million traditional healers use Mundari group of tribes and are constitute 7.8 percent of the total a wide range of medicinal plants for concentrated in central-eastern India. population out of which 62 inhibit in treating ailments of both humans and In Odisha they are found mainly in Odisha. In terms of tribal population, livestock across the length and breadth the districts of Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Odisha stands third in India after of the country. Over 800 medicinal Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and Mayur- Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Here, the plant species are currently in use by bhanj. In these regions they are locally tribals comprise 24.07 percent of the the Indian herbal industry. However, known as Mankidi, Mankria or total population. In recent times, with barring some 120 species, all others are Mankar-khia because of their habit of the increased knowledge of life and collected from the wild. This collection eating and sharing monkeys. In the culture of the tribal communities, the often involves destructive harvesting Odia dialect 'mankad' means social scientists are taking interest in when parts like roots, bark, wood, stem monkeys, and 'khia' means the habit ethno-medicinal studies. Many works and the whole plant (herb) are used. of eating. These people are called as have been reported, specially from Unregulated wild harvest, alongside Mankidias in every part of Odisha, and among the rural and tribal habitat loss and degradation is leading there is no perceptible difference communities of India (Bhadra and to resource depletion which in turn is between them in different regions. Tirkey 1997; Sharma and Thakur endangering the very survival of these 1997; Choudhury 2000). Ray and species. No wonder, many of these Though broadly branded as hunter- Sharma (2005) have given a species listed in the Red Data Book of gatherers, the whole gamut of the description of ethno-medicinal beliefs the IUCN and the Botanical Survey of Mankidia economy in the above- and practices prevalent among the India are valued for their medicinal mentioned areas of Odisha involves Savaras, a tribal community of Andhra properties. the exploitation of forest resources Pradesh. Kumari (2006) gave an and the maintenance of an essential account on the concept of illness and Thirteen tribal groups are officially economic articulation with caste disease and the application of folk identified as primitive tribes in the state peasants and the market economy of medicine among the Sauras of of Odisha. Mankidia or Mandidi are the larger society. The Mankidias Jharkhand. The World Health one of the primitive tribes of Odisha. collect jungle products and exchange Organisation (WHO) has been They are in fact, an offshoot of the them with the neighbouring settled promoting a movement for 'Saving Birhor, a jungle tribe of the Hindu peasants for their day-to-day plants for saving lives'. This is because Chhotanagpur area of Bihar. The livelihood. The jungle resources mainly of the growing understanding of the Mankidias belong to the same dark- collected by them are form the pivotal role medicinal plants play in skinned, short statured, long headed, bauhinia creeper that grows profusely providing herbal remedies to health wavy-haired and broad nosed race to in these regions. From the bark of these maladies. India is the home of several which the Mundas, the Santhals, the creepers, various kinds of ropes and important traditional system of health Bhumis, the Hos and other allied tribes rope-products are made. Various care like Ayurveda. This system belong. Like other allied tribes the minor forest products are also depends heavily on herbal products. Mankidias speak a language classed procured and exchanged in the Several millions of Indian households within the Mundari group in the neighbouring society. Hunting of wild have been using through the ages Austro-Asiatic sub-family of language game is another economic activity they nearly 8000 species of medicinal plants (Mayurbhanj District Gazetteer, carry out. But hunting is pursued

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 49 LIVELIHOOD occasionally and animals hunted are the tribal (Mankidia) dominated medicine as a service to others in their primarily for consumption. Sometimes villages of Mayurbhanj district. Three communities. The healer is a person of they also sell live monkeys and the skin villages of Jashipur Block namely, good conduct known to be of langur. Though hunting does not Thakurguda, Durdura and Matiagarh trustworthy. The patient feels that he contribute much to their economy, and one village from Khunta Block or she is on the same level as the healer, they keep up a spirit of hunting and namely, Baniabasa of the district were unlike in western societies where the continue with this as a cultural norm. covered. Rapport was established physician tends to hold him or her This article primarily focuses on the before data collection. The data were above the patient by virtue of exclusive traditional health practices of the collected from the village medicine- knowledge and higher social status. Mankidias based upon their belief men whose treatments are believed to Under ethnomedical system several structure and the available forest be very effective and also from the practices are found among the resources. Our knowledge of intimate local knowledgeable elderly persons Mankidias such as: relationship between man and plants and from the old women who conduct 1. Herbal practices under which in his immediate surroundings has been the delivery. The medicine men and medicines are derived from the passed on to us mainly through the elderly persons of the community various plants sources. surviving tradition (Jain 2004). were interviewed for recording the 2. Supernatural practices. However, with the passage of time and local names, plant parts used, purpose 3. Ethnosurgery where incisions on development of technological of usage and the method of the body, delivery, surgery, etc, medicine and health infrastructure this administration. In the collection of are done knowledge is under serious threat. data, no structured questionnaire was Ethno-medicinal beliefs and practices used. Medicinal properties of plants The Mankidias believe in folk are influenced by culture. The were learned through in-depth, medicine. They have their traditional relationships between human informal interviews. A number of healers upon whom they have sicknesses, treatment, healing group discussions were also conducted considerable faith and confidence. The medicines and the rest of culture in a during the period of investigations. In members of the Mankidia community society are intimate. Concept of the following enumeration, the cultural have few common characteristics disease, classification of diseases, practices along with health care, health regarding perception of health and procedures of diagnosis is all influenced culture and its management keeping illness. Like many other tribal societies by culture. Indeed concepts of disease in view of ecological condition of the they also attribute a lot of diseases to are cultural classification of illness. Mankidias, have been discussed. the wrath of god, mischief of evil spirits They do not, of course, cover a whole and magic of human being. Treatment range of misfortune a community may Results and Discussions is based upon the removal of causative face over a long period of time and in The old ways of healing have been factor by appeasing god; controlling a general sense. passed from generation to generation, evil spirits through counter magic, use linking the Mankidias to their history of sorcery and of course some herbal Materials and Methods and culture, giving them a sense of preparation. Thus religious practices of The authors have conducted an identity and ownership. Healers are the Mankidias are closely related to intensive exploration to collect data in local people who practice traditional their ecological conditions also.

Table 1 : Important medicinal plants used by the Mankidias for treatment of ailments Sl. Local name and Parts used Disease or Mode of application No. botanical name condition 1. 'Kaincha' Whole plant Fever Two spoonful decoction of whole plant is taken (Abrus precatorius ) orally twice a day for three days to cure fever. Seed paste is used for abortion 2. 'Kanta siriso' Bark Diarrhea Bark is soaked in cold water for full night and the (Acacia leucophloea) decoction is given in the morning to cure diarrhea.

50 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 LIVELIHOOD

Bark decoction along with hot ghee given to child to cure dental carries 3. 'Gheekuanri (Aloe vera ) Leaves White patches The juice of fresh leaves is applied on the affected area once a day during morning hours until the white patches on face disappear. 4. 'Nimba' Leaf ,young Diabetes, Aqueous extract of leaves is taken once a day in (Azadirachta indica ) shoot skin disease empty stomach continuously one month for treat- ment of diabetes. Leaf extract is given as a blood purifier and for removal of intestinal worms. Leaf paste is applied on skin diseases and in small pox. Young shoots are used as tooth brush 5. 'Siali' (Bauhinia vahlii) Bark Dysent-ery Barks of the stem and lime made into paste and are taken orally, twice a day for 3 days to cure dysentery. 6. 'Dhanua lanka' (Capsi- Seed Waist pain Seed powder mixed with castor oil is applied to cum frutescens) cure waist pain 7. 'Amruta Bhanda' (Carica Juice Tooth-ache Juice extract is applied in case of toothache papaya ) 8. 'Lembu' (Citrus limon) Fruits Diarrhea Fruit is crushed and warmed slightly and applied to cure diarrhea. 9. 'Karada' Shoot Foot injury Young shoot paste is applied on foot to get relief (Cleistanthus coinus) from injury caused by sand 10. 'Bana kunduri' (Coccinia Leaves Jaundice Fresh leaves along with leaves of Kalanchoe grandis) pinnata and sugar are ground with water and taken twice a day for four to five days to cure jaundice 11. 'Palua Tuber Dysent-ery Roots and sugar are mixed with large quantities of (Curcuma angustifolia) water and given twice a day for three to four days to cure dysentery. 12. 'Nirmuli'(Cuscuta reflexa) Stem Malaria The stem and black pepper seed is pasted and taken with water to cure fever and malaria. 13. 'Mahula'(Madhuca flower Piles and fis- Flowers (corolla) are boiled in water with a pinch longifolia) tula of salt for half-an-hour; 5- 10 ml of this decoction is given with honey, thrice a day for seven days in piles and fistula

Traditional healers use their five senses are genetically important for future after developing intimacy with some to diagnose the diseases which are research. This study reveals that the of the medicine men and other remarkable because they live in Mankidias of the forest area of traditional healers, information on remote areas and lack the modern Mayurbhanj have a vast knowledge medicinal uses has been collected and scientific equipments for diagnosis and about ethnomedicinal uses of plants is presented in this paper. treatment; however, they treat diseases growing in their vicinity. The other using medicinal plants and animals tribal inhabitants like Kharia, Bhumija, Conclusion (Santhya et al., 2006). Documentation Santals, Gonds, Kols and Mahalis live The Mankidia is one of the most of such plants from the perspective of in deep forests and use a large number primitive tribal groups of Odisha. In ethnobotanical angle is important for of plants for medicine. The tribals are the eyes of modern world they are the understanding of indigenous normally not interested to share their considered backward, although they knowledge systems. These resources knowledge with others. However, have a resource-rich natural

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 51 LIVELIHOOD environment of their own. The inaccessible to a majority of Mankidias, medicine. Sets of restrictions are Mankidias' profound spiritual particularly the womenfolk, especially imposed by the medicine-man on the resources draw their strength not just in remote villages. So, inaccessibility is patients to observe. For instance, he from their belief in a creator guardian an important factor for the Mankidia may advise the patients to consume God, but their reliance on maintaining for not availing the medical services of certain types of food and reject certain this deity's presence with them. Their a qualified doctor. And where these others. The fibrous foods, animal most significant aspect is their 'religion' are accessible, the doctors sometimes proteins and ripen fruits are not and their belief in nature and spirits. neglect the poor Mankidia patients. In advised for consumption. However, The work, culture and environment such circumstances they prefer to go the Mankidia medicine-men, now-a- of the Mankidia also determine the directly to the nearby unqualified days, do not hesitate to advise the adherence of the people to their healers or medicine practitioners. Their patient to go for alien food traditional ways. Poverty affects the strong belief in traditional medicines supplements, like Sago, Barley, etc. nutritional status of the Mankidia. and the medicine man does not prefer The attitudes of the patients as well as During the days of scarcity and slack to show their ailing bodies to an their relatives towards the medicine- seasons, especially those Mankidias outsider as they feel that it affects their men and their methods of treatment who live in interior villages have to way of living and belief system. As the are also changing. subsist on wild fruits, roots and leaves. aged ones consider themselves a They also eat dry fish for many days. liability on their offspring, they do not Some aspects in the field of the Malnourishment causes a decline in prefer to go for expensive treatments. indigenous medicine have persisted and their health and they fall an easy prey This section of the Mankidia some have changed due to various to various infections, which due to population considers the diseases as the factors, like modernization, planned negligence take a chronic form forerunners to their old age and opts development intervention, etc. The resulting in high morbidity and for the traditional medicines. They also Mankidia population has been caught mortality among them. Although consider themselves as the children of in the web of tradition and modernity many of them now prefer to consult nature and do not want to go against and within therapeutic pluralism. The allopathic doctors for treatment, the it. But the younger generation depends new generations are not very much services of qualified doctors are more on borrowed thoughts and life interested in the indigenous methods styles, and is in favour of adopting a of treating diseases. They are even not changed medical system. They find it concerned about the importance of easy to get the medical facilities in these herbal plants and their medicinal exchange of hard cash obtained from value. The growing disinterest in the sale proceeds of Surplus Agricultural use of the folk medicinal plants and its Produce (SAP) and Minor Forest significance among the younger Produce (MFP) as well as from generation of the Mankidias will lead accepting wage earning pursuits either to the disappearance of this practice. daily or on monthly basis. This group Educated younger generation of the advocates for change in curing community should therefore be practices but overtly plays a encouraged by the government to supportive role for continuation of the preserve this indigenous medicare age-old practices at least at the initial knowledge with necessary scientific stage of the disease. They also believe validation(where applicable), and to that the fate of the individual and protect and cultivate the valuable rare community depends on their & endangered herbal plants before relationship with unseen forces, which they get lost due to the impact of intervene in human affairs. The modernization and urbanization and treatment of a patient is no more also due to deforestration. Offering of medicine to supernatural forces before administering considered mere administration of

52 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 LIVELIHOOD

References • Bhadra RK and Tirkey JB 1997. Health culture practices in rural society. Case studies of castes and tribes of North Bengal. In: F Ahmed Das, RK Kar (Eds.): Health Studies in Anthropology. Department of Anthropology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, pp.79-94. • Jain SK 2004. A Manual of Ethnobotany. Jodhpur: Scientific Publishers. • Kumari P 2006. Etiology and healing practices: A study in primitive societies of Jharkhand. In: P Dash Sharma (Ed.): Anthropology of Primitive Tribes in India. New Delhi: Serial Publications, pp. 487-499. • Sharma and Thakur GC 1997. Ethnomedicine and tribal health. In: F Ahmed Das, RK Kar (Eds.): Health Studies in Anthropology. Department of Anthropology. Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, pp. 65-72. • Choudhury S 2000. Indigenous beliefs and practices of herbal medicine among the few Arunachalis. Resarun, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Department of Cultural Affairs 26: 72-81. • Ray A, Sharma BV 2005. Ethnomedical beliefs and practices among the Savara. In: S Sahay, PK Singh (Eds.): Dimen- sions of Researches in Indian Anthropology . New Delhi: Serials Publications. Volume 2, pp. 454- 464. • Santhya B, Thomas S, Isabel WR, Shenbagarathi R (2006). Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Valaiyan community of Piranmalai hills (Reserved forest), Tamilnadu, India - A pilot study. Afr. J. Trad. Cam. 3(1): 101-114. • Banerji, Shastri A. 1932. The Bhanja Origins. The Mayurbhanj Gazette 1(2): 5

Preparation of traditional medicine

² Dr. Purnajyoti Brahma Capacity Building Consultant, Odisha Community Tank Management and Development Society, Mayurbhanj Email : [email protected] Ms. Supriya Mudgal Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Banasthali Vidyapeeth

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 53 EMERGING TRENDS

Making Eucalyptus Ecofriendly: The ITC Way

Eucalyptus is among the important published by Forest Research Institute such as wider planting, deep ploughing trees of the world. It has captured the & Colleges, Dehra Dun; ITC to allow more rain water seepage in interest and imagination of the PSPD(Paperboards and Specialty the ground, etc. are practiced by the common man as much as it has of the Papers Division)Unit, Bhadrachalam's growers. conservationist, foresters, Environ- pizometric data on ground water; and mental NGO's, ecologists and the Clonal Technological Research In order to dispel any doubts that politicians. clear up many misunderstandings Eucalyptus depletes ground water about this tree. table, we at ITC are providing Popularity and fame bring in their wake blame and resentment and Criticism I: a) Abstracts from published research Eucalyptus received a full measure of Ground water drawls by papers both. Though Eucalyptus has become Eucalyptus plantations b) Experimental data (pizometric important industrial species in many ITC has developed fast growing, high bore well data on ground water countries, debate remains about their yielding, site specific Eucalyptus clones table for 5 years by ITC). effect on the environment. An adopting Root Trainer Technology. objection to large extent by certain The Root Trainer Technology helps It may be observed from the relevant scientists and NGO's is intense in India. development of multiple roots, which portions of various published research Much of the debate in earlier years has are surface feeders and go to a depth papers that, it is a proven fact that the been polemic. Each group - pro or of 1 to 1.5 m only and do not affect root system of eucalyptus goes up to a against has adduced evidence from the ground water table. Apart from depth of about 3 to 3.5 m only with a limited experimental results. However, the above, sound package of practices lateral spread of 3.5 m, thus absorbing the current expansion rate of Eucalyptus or other pulpwood (subabul, casuarina, acacia etc) plantations (fast wood forestry) around the world shows not all countries embarking in large scale plantations are convinced by concerns raised on Eucalyptus in India.

Vilified as a poisonous plant and condemned as an ecological disaster, Eucalyptus has attracted opprobrium to a varying degree. It has become the object of political propaganda. Two excellent accounts "Eucalyptus for planting" published by FAO and Eucalyptus special numbers of the "Indian Forester" (December 1983, January 1984, and February 1984)

54 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 EMERGING TRENDS by and large only the surface soil overdoing Eucalyptus planting in 4. Messrs. Fransis, H. Raj, N. C. M. moisture between 1 to 3.5 m. India?' states that the species of Rajan, K. Rajagopal and H. N. Eucalyptus are recently being Mathur write a very interesting Since the ground water table is several maligned perhaps with some and conclusive article on "Some meters below, Eucalyptus plants are reasons, as upsetting the hydrological investigations on unable to tap the ground water. ecosystem. Regarding the water blue gum at Osmund (Nilgiris). Therefore, Eucalyptus plantations as table, he opines that the Under the sub heading - such do not have any effect on ground watershed has improved Underground water, the authors water levels. whereever Eucalyptus is planted. write that in order to evaluate the Here it should be pointed out that effect of Eucalyptus globulus There are several species of Eucalyptus in dry zone, watersheds are (blue gum) two small natural in the world, and the species that is totally degraded of vegetation watersheds, one predominantly mostly planted in India is Eucalyptus and in most cases are not having under blue gum and another tereticornis. Davidson(1985), the FAO even grasses. In such areas, predominantly with grasses were expert, has a specific observation on establishment of tree growth has selected and the ground water the criticism that Eucalyptus lowers been only possible through conditions monitored. A network the water table (based on the data of Eucalyptus. of four wells in the grassland early 19th century that Eucalyptus was 2. The author Mr. P. A. Malwade catchment and a network of six planted in Pointine Marshes near Rome in his article 'Irrigated Eucalyptus wells in the blue gum catchment and these marshes got dried ). He states plantations in Gujarat - some were established and the water that there are many species of emerging patterns' states that levels were monitored once daily. Eucalyptus, which can be grown in there is no lowering of water The average water levels in the waterlogged or dried areas. Eucalyptus table. No instances of receding of catchments for the period 1980 - tereticornis has a root depth of 3 m water table in wells on raising of 1983 were tabulated. Analyzed with a lateral spread of 3.5 m. irrigated Eucalyptus plantations data showed that the water table Therefore, Davidson concludes, "this have been reported. On the other rises to maximum level in July / bears out the fact that most Eucalyptus hand some farmers find that by August due to monsoon rains and root systems are more specifically adoption of irrigated plantations, the lowest level occurs in the adapted to using rainfed soil moisture the availability of water in wells month of May / June. They from upper soil profile rather than improves when compared with recorded 29 cm fall in the from the ground water table at farming of cash crops like hybrid grassland and 70 cm fall in water considerable depth". It can therefore cotton. table in blue gum plantations be concluded that Eucalyptus has less 3. The author Mr. S. Chandbasha in respectively but the difference effect on the water table than several his article 'Performance of was not statistically significant. other species of commonly planted Eucalyptus in Kerala' takes note The general ground water level trees. of the argument that Eucalyptus in the district between December heavily consumes water, and to March is below the root zone The observations of Davidson are wonders why there is no such (2 m) of blue gum. The authors further substantiated with the criticism against other exotics like further state that efforts to drain following information compiled in the rubber, coffee, cocoa, and tea etc. waterlogged areas by planting Proceeding of the Conference on when results of the investigations Eucalyptus in Uttar Pradesh did 'Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and conducted by Walter (1971) in not succeed indicating that Future', held at Kerala Forest Research Amani show that Eucalyptus Eucalyptus does not play Institute in 1986: transpires less water compared to significant role in the depletion of that of coffee, tea and other forest water table and the criticism is not 1. The author Mr. K. Shanmuga- species and hence there is no based on scientific facts. Finally, nathan in his article 'Are we lowering of water table? the authors conclude that the

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 55 EMERGING TRENDS

study does not reveal any adverse Rajan(1987, who provides experi- by Eucalyptus can be reduced by effect of blue gum on the mental evidence to support his belief planting trees farther apart or by hydrological cycle in the Nilgaris. that Eucalyptus is a good water thinning existing plantations. He further Also there is no evidence that local economist, observes that it is a species, remarks that results concerning ground ground water and soil moisture which can live with the least quantity water and catchment management regime and water quality have of water, and when water is available show many inconsistencies. been upset adversely due to blue in plenty, it can resort to luxury gum planting. consumption. Experiments in ITC 5. Messrs. H. N. Mathur, Fransis, H. ITC has embarked upon a Tree Raj and K. Rajagopal in their Tiwari(1992) on the other hand refers Improvement Programme on article 'Root studies on Eucalyptus to the substantial improvement of the Eucalyptus way back in 1989. globulus' state that blue gum is a efficiency of the Guthega catchment Bhadrachalam clones of Eucalyptus shallow rooted plant and its root (Australia) by planting deforested areas have become famous and are widely system is confined to depth of with Eucalyptus and properly adopted by the farming community. about 3 m. It is unlikely under managing the existing Eucalyptus the circumstances that this type vegetation. Regarding the controversy 1. ITC has developed "Root Trainer of root system could adversely that Eucalyptus lowers the water table, Technology" wherein the affect the ground water table over he quotes the experience of Eucalyptus predominant single taproot found most parts of the Nilgiri hills. The plantations near Kondagaon in Bastar in the seedling origin tree which is most interesting aspect is that the and Khodari in Bilaspur where the blamed for drawing the pro-generators of Eucalyptus water levels in the wells adjoining underground water is not there. controversy Ms.Vandana Shiva, Eucalyptus plantations and Sal natural Instead, in the clonally developed S.T. Somasekhara Reddy and J. forests were found to be the same. tree, the root system is multiple Bandyopadhyay(1986) also write and fibrous. Its depth in "all poor waste and derelict land A FAO(1996) report mentions the plantations is not beyond 1 to 1.5 should be handed over to the contribution of Eucalyptus plantations m. The root system is mainly industrial commercial bodies to to soil and water conservation based surface feeder. invest on land development and on the data from Jingdong Country in 2. In order to reduce the impact on reap the harvest for a long time. the Yunnan Province of China. The water usage, ITC recommends to Eucalyptus is a very suitable report further states that although the growers to plant at 3 x 1.5 m species for industrial commercial Eucalyptus consumes a certain or 3 x 2 m spacing (2222 or 1666 purposes and being an aggressive quantity of water to support fast plants per ha) instead of 1 x 1 m species should be encouraged in growth, Eucalyptus plantations do not planting (10,000 plants per ha) production forestry". worsen the water conditions in forest which was the earlier practice. 6. Mr. Dinesh Kumar in his article soils. This is the standard package of 'Place of Eucalyptus in Indian practice now for growing agroforestry systems' states that Thus, it is not surprising that Eucalyptus. the report published by IIM, Davidson(1998) finds it worth 3. The felling cycle has been reduced Bangalore started controversy on concluding that in majority of from 7 to 4 years. Hence, all the Eucalyptus. He further states that instances, the criticisms blaming the clonal Eucalyptus plantations Eucalyptus being xerophytic has Eucalyptus trees for social, cultural, managed as agricultural produce low transpiration rate and under planning and managerial problems are can impact on surface soil water its canopy there is more soil unfounded . He further states that for their growth and not on the moisture than in open areas in arid Eucalyptus appears to use less water underground water table. areas of Israel. The root system is per unit weight of biomass produced 4. As ITC eucalyptus plantations are only few feet deep making it than other kinds of trees and many on private lands, farmers are suitable under agroforestry. agricultural crops. Water consumption advised to take intercrop even in

56 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 EMERGING TRENDS

block plantations. A new Table 2. Pre-monsoon - June data for 6 years (2001-2006) agroforestry model is suggested corresponding to summer or before rainy season for water with eucalyptus paired rows (at table from 4 pizometric borewells 1.5 m horizontal and 1 m vertical distance) and in between these Year Pizometer 1 Pizometer 2 Pizometer 3 Pizometer 4 rows a large distance of 8.5 m is (Well 22.64 m (Well 11.7 m (Well 19.4 m (Well 6.15 m maintained wherein regular in depth) in depth) in depth) in depth) agricultural crops are grown. The Water table Water table Water table Water table number of trees remain the same Depth (m) Depth (m) Depth (m) Depth (m) (2000 eucalyptus trees per ha). June'01 7.30 7.30 7.30 2.10 This model is suggested for wood and food security. It improves June'02 7.30 7.80 7.30 2.10 productivity and profitability of June'03 8.60 8.60 8.60 2.60 farmer, and hedges risk from failure of agri crops (at least tree June'04 7.30 7.30 7.30 2.90 crops are available). Land remains June'05 8.20 8.20 8.20 2.50 cultivated throughout the year unlike in system of agriculture in June'06 7.20 7.27 7.20 2.47 many areas wherein the land is Mean ± SD 7.65 ± 0.59 7.74 ± 0.55 7.65 ± 0.59 2.44 ± 0.59 left fallow for about 6 months. monitoring water quality and water Table 1. Eucalyptus and Subabul plantations with pizometers table and is presented in Table 2 and 3 Year Eucalyptus (Acres) Subabul (Acres) Total (Acres) and Figure 1 and 2. 2000-01 43 - 43 Perusal of the table and the figure 2001-02 13 - 13 reveals that in pre monsoon period the 2002-03 85 - 85 water table in 3 bore wells of 11.7 to 2003-04 23 - 23 22.64 m depth was at 7.65 to 7.74 m. 2004-05 161 19 180 while, for a shallow bore well of 6.15 m 2005-06 694 31 725 depth, the water table was found at Total 1019 50 1069 2.44 m. The same bore wells in post

ITC's PSPD unit Bhadrachalam has Table 3. Post-monsoon - December data for 5 years (2001- undertaken nearly 1069 acres 2005) corresponding to winter or after rainy season for water pulpwood plantations of Eucalyptus table from 4 pizometric borewells (1019 acres) and Subabul (50 acres) in Year Pizometer 1 Pizometer 2 Pizometer 3 Pizometer 4 Burghamphad, Reddypalyam and (Well 22.64 m (Well 11.7 m (Well 19.4 m (Well 6.15 m Sarapaka village areas (Table 1). in depth) in depth) in depth) in depth) Water table Water table Water table Water table In this area, 4 pizometers were installed Depth (m) Depth (m) Depth (m) Depth (m) in 4 bore wells at 4 different places. Dec'01 6.80 6.70 6.80 1.60 The average rainfall of this area as per Dec'02 6.70 6.60 6.80 1.10 Indian Meteorological Department, Dec'03 6.70 6.60 6.25 1.80 Khammam for last 10 years is 953.4 Dec'04 6.75 6.75 6.85 2.10 mm. The monsoon sets in the mid June Dec'05 6.40 7.00 6.60 1.60 and continues till mid November. Periodic data is collected for Mean ± SD 6.67 ± 0.15 6.73 ± 0.16 6.66 ± 0.24 1.64 ± 0.36

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 57 EMERGING TRENDS

(1000), sorghum (1000) and maize WATER TABLE IN METERS (Pre Monsoon) (1000) liters/kg biomass produced (Davidson, 1989). The above figures show that eucalyptus species are comparatively efficient water users. METERS Not only food crops, but many timber species and other trees have high water consumption as compared to eucaly- ptus hybrid(exotic), as detailed in Table-4:

MONTH/YEAR Criticism 2: Nothing grows Fig. 1: Bar Charts for piezometric bore wells on total depths and corresponding underneath Eucalyptus month (June) and year (2001 to 2006) water-table in Pre-Monsoon trees The critics of Eucalyptus say that nothing grows underneath eucalyptus WATER TABLE IN METERS (Post Monsoon) trees and that there is no undergrowth. However, to see scientifically, under- growth means the lowest canopy of a forest with layers, and such canopies

METERS do exist in undisturbed eucalyptus plantations. For a lay man, on the other hand, undergrowth means ground cover with herbaceous plants and shrubs. But, a farmer taking up commercial plantations of Eucalyptus is not supposed to allow the weeds to MONTH/YEAR build up in his plot and more over he Fig. 2: Bar Charts for piezometric bore wells on total depths and corresponding also does not want his land to become month (December) and years (2001 to 2005) water-table in Post Monsoon. a jungle for other reasons. In ITC Note: The depth is measured from the surface of the earth at which the promoted farm forestry eucalyptus ground water is first encountered. plantations ploughing is recommended to keep the weeds under check and to obtain alteration of nutrients in soil so monsoon period had water table at water table either in summer or in post that trees grow fast with the nutrients 6.66 to 6.73 m for 3 bore wells and for monsoon period. available to them in the surface layers the bore well of 6.15 m depth, the of the soil. This practice is similar to water table was found at 1.64 m Water requirement of Euca- agricultural crop and hence, it is wrong showing rise in water table due to lyptus versus other food to draw a conclusion that underneath monsoon rains. Therefore, the water crops eucalyptus trees nothing grows! table from 2001 to 2006 in pre and Most eucalyptus species need on post monsoon period was almost average 785 liters of water/kg of Criticism 3: Biodiversity constant and the statistical difference biomass produced as opposed to impact is not significant. Hence, it can be cotton/coffee/banana(3200), Eucalyptus plantations are stated as inferred that the plantations of 1000 sunflower(2400), field pea(2000), cow mono cultures. If they are grown in acres did not impact adversely the pea(1667) Soya bean (1430), potato contiguous patches miles together by

58 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 EMERGING TRENDS

Table - 4 Species Water consumed Biomass Total Biomass produced Water consumed per during one year produced per Liter of water gram of Biomass ( Lit) (gm) ( Lit) (Lit/gm)

Acacia auricilaeformis 1231.50 1713.0 1.39 0.72 (Australian acacia)

Albizzia lebbek 1283.90 2354.8 1.83 0.55 (Kala siris)

Dalbergia sissoo 1534.05 2004.5 1.31 077 (Shisham)

Eucalyptus hybrid 2526.35 5209.0 2.06 0.48

Pongamia pinnata 459.15 519.7 1.13 0.88 (Karanj /Honge)

Syzigium cuminii 1190.25 2386.0 2.00 0.50 (Jamun)

Source: A. N. Chaturvedi (1983). Eucalyptus for Farming. UP Forest Bull. 48. Lucknow.

destroying native vegetation, then Conclusion up agroforestry for both wood and there will be some impact on While the concerns around Eucalyptus food security. Further, being a holder biodiversity. However, ITC promoted may not be totally unfounded, of the Forest Stewardship Council plantations on farm land are not scientific findings have equally stressed Forest Management certificate, ITC contagious. These Eucalyptus on the fact that some of these concerns doesn't practice genetic modification plantations on farm land are in discrete may not also be completely valid in all of pulpwood species; and unlike some plots interspread with agricultural conditions. However, the best counterparts in the industry it has been crops thus maintaining the required approach amidst this antagonistic funding its social/farm forestry agro-biodiversity. Moreover, the environment is to go for safer practices. programmes from its own source. We plantation is not going to remain ITC has demonstrated how Eucalyptus at ITC are therefore confident that our forever but is managed on harvestable can be least risky and more ecofriendly practices can be a role model for cycle (felling at 4 years) like the through very selective and others, and help dispel many agricultural crops. On farm land any scientifically planned practices. ITC exaggerated apprehensions about way the farmer is growing mono- and WIMCO (WIMCO is part of ITC Eucalyptus on the field itself. culture crop like paddy, cotton, wheat, now) were the first to introduce the pulses etc., similarly, Eucalyptus is also Root Trainer Technology to India. ² grown as monoculture short rotation Later, it was widely adopted by other crop on harvestable cycle. Added to paper mills and forest departments in Dr. H D Kulkarni it, ITC is promoting agro-forestry the country. ITC advices the farmers Vice President (Plantation), model of growing eucalyptus and to maintain necessary distance between ITC Limited, PSPD, agricultural crop which gives wood the Eucalyptus rows so as to cause least Unit: Bhadrachalam, and food security for the growing harm to the growth of biodiversity. The Sarapaka - 507 128 population of India. company is advising farmers to take E-mail: [email protected]

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 59 EMERGING TRENDS

References

Chandbasha, S. (1986). Performance of Eucalypts in Kerala. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.71-74.

Davidson. J. (1985). Setting aside the idea that Eucalyptus are always bad. UNDP FAO Pub. Rome. Pp. 12-14.

Davidson, J. (1998). Ecological aspects of Eucalyptus plantations. www.FAO.ORG/DOCREP/005/AC777E/ AC777E06.HTM. Sapra, R.K. (2004). Eucalyptus plantations safer investment. The Tribune India. New Delhi Edition.

Dinesh Kumar. (1986). Place of Eucalyptus in the Indian agro-forestry systems. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.257-259.

FAO (1996). Report submitted to the regional expert consultation on Eucalyptus. Country reports -China, India, Indonesia and Thialand. FAO, Rome. Pp.27-28,78-80,219.

Francis H. R., Rajan, N.C., Rajagopal, K. and Mathur, H.N. (1986). Some hydrological investigations on blue gum at Osamund (Nilgiris). In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.149-157.

Hassankutty, A. (1986). Eucalyptus myths and truths. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.458-459.

Kondas,S. and Venkatesan, K.R. (1986). Eucalyptus in Tamil Nadu. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.31-34.

Malwade, P.A.(1986). Irrigated Eucalyptus plantations in Gujarat - some emerging patterns . In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.36-40.

Mathur, H.N. Francis H. R and Rajagopal, K. (1986). Root studies on Eucalyptus globulus. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.225-228.

Rajan, B.K.C. (1987). Versatile Eucalyptus. Diana Pub. Bangalore. Pp.41-45, 191-192.

Ram Prasad (1987). Eucalyptus cultivation in Madhya Pradesh. State Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur. Pp.8-13.

Shanmuganathan, K. (1986). Are we overdoing Eucalyptus planting in India. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.21-30.

Tiwari, D.N. (1992). Monograph on Eucalyptus. Surya Pub. Dehra Dun. Pp. 3-4.

Vandana Shiva, Somashakhara Reddy, S.T. and Bandyopadhyay, J. (1986). The ecology of Eucalyptus and farm forestry policy in rain fed areas. In: Sharma, et.al., (Ed.) Eucalyptus in India. Past, Present and Future. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Trichur, India. Pp.237-247.

60 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 NEWS & EVENTS

State Gears up for Massive Afforestation Man converts Barren Land into Lush K’Pada Forest Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to take up plantation in 2 lakh hectares of land in the state in the 2012-13 fiscal with an allocation of Rs 183 Meet Nirakar Mallick, a resident of crore. This was decided at a high-level meeting presided over by chief minister Aliha village under Aul block of Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here on Sunday. It may be mentioned Kendrapada district, who has that the state government has taken up afforestation programme in 1.82 lakh converted over nine acres of barren hectares in 2011-12 fiscal with an allocation of Rs 160 crore. However, it has Government land into a mini forest increased its target to 2 lakh hectares in the current fiscal. without any financial assistant from either the Government or the NGOs. At the meeting, the chief minister directed the forest department to step up mas- sive plantation in the industrial and mining areas and take adequate measures to The stony land was lying unused for check timber theft. It was revealed at the meeting that the forest department in years but over the years, the steely the current fiscal has reared 4 lakh bamboo saplings that would be planted in 1000 resolve of Mallick has converted it into hectares. Besides, a decision has been taken to take up roadside plantations in a mini forest, which now is covered 1600 road kms (RKM) in the current year as compared to 760 RKM in 2011-12. with luxuriant wild and fruit bearing Similarly, under the urban afforestation programme, the state government has trees. decided to include 28 urban areas. Last year, 12 urban areas were included under the programme. According to Mallick, the idea of growing trees struck his mind when he For the capital city, a target has been set to plant three lakh saplings this year. The came to know that forest plays an plantation would be made in the premises of various schools, colleges and other important role against natural institutions in the city. calamities and also for water conservation. He started pursuing his Among others, commercial plantation, and renovation of Landa Pahaha were noble mission in the mid 1980s and discussed at the meeting. The meeting also decided to take up afforestation began planting saplings in the unused programme in three lakh hectares of deforested areas with the financial assistance low-lying Government land in his by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority village. (CAMPA), this year. Initially, he was a butt of public ridicule Besides, it was also decided to set up 281 permanent nurseries with the financial but with the passage of time, as the assistance from CAMPA AND NREGS funds. Last year, the total number of bald area began to assume a green permanent nurseries in the state was 219. colour with the luxuriant growth of the trees, the same villagers praised him and It is worthwhile here to mention that the state government has taken up various called him the 'Green Man'. His wife programmes including forest conservation programme, renovation of deforested and three sons co-operated him all areas and infrastructure development under CAMPA assistance. along in his mission of planting the saplings and barricading the areas. Besides, other programmes such as providing income generating work to poor people, construction of roads, water bodies, roads and Range offices are also being Mallick, who said he had not planted taken up under CAMPA assistance. trees for his own publicity, rather it was to protect the area from the devastated Among others, forest and environment minister Debi Prasad Mishra, chief secre- cyclones, has of late urged the district tary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, PCCF Priyanath Padhi, principal secretary, forests and administration and the forest environment and secretaries of concerned departments were present at the meet- department to provide him more land ing. for afforestration. (Source: http://dailypioneer.com/state-edi- Source: ‘Pragatibadi’ news quoted in Indian Environment Portal, http:// tions/bhubaneswar/70772-man-converts- barren-land-into-lush-kpada-forest.html, www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/state-gears-massive-afforestation. Date published in the daily Pioneer, 5th June of publication 21 May 2012) 2012)

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 61 Department proposes, community disposes

In 2005, residents of Kadalibadi village in the Juanga pidha area of Keonjhar district in Odisha were facing a serious threat to their livelihood. These people belonged to one of the most vulnerable and innocent tribal communities, the Juang; and their village topography was allowing only a small patch for low- land paddy cultivation. They were thus forced naturally to practice shifting cultivation over a patch of land that was recorded in the name of the government because of an erroneous policy, and the Forest Department Gumkudi forest patch for proposed plantation selected this patch for its compensatory plantation against a Vasundhara, Bhubaneswar. Accessible different places. During the last two mining activity elsewhere. Mining at http://vasundhara odisha.org/ years, there have been some incidents devastated environment, and to Research%20Reports/Vulnerable in RCDC’s field areas where local compensate that the Department TribalLivelihoodandShifting communities have stopped the Forest planted trees devastating the scope for Cultivation.pdf ). Department to carry out plantation food security of some extremely poor activity in the local forest. The reasons & vulnerable people who could not However, with the promulgation of the are three: first, under the Forest Rights resist (more details are available in Rath Forest Rights Act, 2006 social activists Act, the people have claimed their B. 2005. Vulnerable Tribal Livelihood have been able to help many such rights over these forest areas and the & Shifting Cultivation. pp.96-97. communities to fight for their rights in Department is not supposed to make changes therein till the claim is duly disposed; second, the Department did not take the local people in confidence while deciding for the plantation; and third, the species selected for plantation may not necessarily be the ones intimate to the community. This protest could happen because of increasing awareness among the people for their rights over their indigenous resources. Gumkudi is a village in the Rayagada district which has taken a lead role in such community protests. Here the people successfully stopped the proposed plantation project of the Department simply because the latter dared to ignore their stake and legal Victorious villagers of Gumkudi rights. ²

62 Community Forestry Issue-26, October 2012 A REQUEST TO OUR ESTEEMED READERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Community Forestry is an in-house quarterly journal of RCDC primarily focusing on various dimensions of community-based forest management but broadly looking into the aspects of community-based ecosystem management. Although it awaits several external measures to validate itself as a journal useful for all relevant stakeholders (particularly the academicians although we don’t intend to make it an academic journal and prefer rather to follow a standardization that matches with the attitude of social activism), the uniqueness and distinction attributed to this periodical has remained intact over the years since it was first published in January 2002. In the recent past we have made an attempt to make its message more systematic and streamlined through the following columns:

1. Cover story: This can cover some pertinent issue that did not receive much attention. 2. Current issue: This is about something that has been highlighted recently. 3. Law & policy: This makes an analysis of some legal or policy matter. 4. Role models: This is a case study of communities successful in forest/biodiversity/ecosystem management 5. Conservation: This attempts to touch upon one or more dimensions of conservation practices chiefly by the communities, implying the contribution in conservation. This a more critical study than the case study under 'Role models'. 6. Eco-commerce: This discusses some dimensions of commerce related to one or more ecosystem elements like NTFP. 7. Livelihood: This is about the NRM-based (with forest and biodiversity in focus) livelihood of communities: how that works, threats thereto, issues, etc. 8. Emerging trends: This is about new trends noticed in community-based NRM. 9. News & events: This is about the media coverage or proceedings of some relevant event, related to communities and NRM.

We therefore invite original articles suitable for these columns, with full details of the author(s), designation, organization address, e-mail, etc.. References, wherever applicable, need to follow the following standard sequence:

• For books : Author (year of publication). Name of the book (bold). Name of the publisher. Place of publication. [Example : Bag, Hemant et al (2011). NTFP Policy Regime after FRA: A Study in Select States of India. RCDC, Bhubaneswar] • For articles: Author(year of publication). Name of the article (bold). In Author/Editor (year of publication).Name of the book/compilation/report in which it was published. Volume No., page No.. Name of the publisher, place of publication. • For internet citations: Author(year of publication). Name of the article (bold). Internet source (address). Date of access.

Please send your photographs/pictures/maps, etc. in jpg format. In case that is not possible please contact us with details of the problem. ²²²

Issue-26, October 2012 Community Forestry 63 Regional Centre for Development Cooperation www.rcdcindia.org