IPC 24th Session, Dehradun Nov 2012 11/29/2012 Global Climate Change Rise in Earth Poplar as a Climate Mitigation Temperature 0 Option under REDD+ Target to keep below 2 C over pre-industrial levels -A case from Haryana, India Increase in CO2 and other Greenhouse Gases Mainly due to human Tajinder P. Singh PhD activities Assistant Director-General Industrial emissions Forests and Climate Change Energy Sector ICFRE, Dehradun Deforestation 31-10-2012 Deforestation and Degradation Cancun Forestry Decision Deforestation, conversion of forests for other activities Decision 1/CP.16 (2009) of UNFCCC Contributes globally to approximately 20 per cent of annual greenhouse gas Scope of REDD+ finally agreed by the Parties emissions (IPCC) Degradation is reduction in density class and biomass (a)Reducing emissions from deforestation (b)Reducing emissions from degradation Reducing deforestation and (c) Conservation of forests degradation (REDD) is the (d) Sustainable management of forests mitigation option with immediate results (e) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks 1 IPC 24th Session, Dehradun Nov 2012 11/29/2012 STUDY AREA REDD+ implementation in India Phase 1 – National Strategy and Action Plan Development MoEF alongwith relevant organisations Overlapping Phase 2 – Readiness and Initial Action ICFRE launching two pilot projects Gujarat and Uttarakhand Phase 3 – Country-wide Implementation This Study is part of the REDD+ Readiness with focus on potential of Poplar to the Mechanism INDIA Haryana Haryana Forests at a Glance Primarily an agricultural State • Geographical Area 44,35,400 ha Small Area 44,354 km2 1.37 % area of the country • 2nd in per capita income Forest Area 1,59,400 ha (3.8%) 1st in per capita expenditure Land under pressure Urbanization • Tree Cover 3,00,300 ha Proximity to Delhi (FSI Report 2009) (3.2%) Mining • Protected Area: 30,362 ha 2 IPC 24th Session, Dehradun Nov 2012 11/29/2012 Agro-forestry in Haryana Agro-forestry played a big role in increase of tree cover Progressive farmers Social forestry started in 1980s Many other Projects like CFP, Aravallis Existence of a big timber market in Yamunanagar Photo Courtesy: Sh. Jagdish Chander Objective of Study Methodology Assessment of Trees Outside Forests (ToF) Assess the significance Species-wise and District-wise of Poplar Cultivation in Selection of the Sample Haryana as a climate Stratified Random Sampling mitigation option under the upcoming REDD+ Contribution and Potential of Poplar to ToF Mechanism Significance for REDD+ Mechanism 3 IPC 24th Session, Dehradun Nov 2012 11/29/2012 Stratified Random Sampling Enumeration Districts as Strata All trees outside block Ranges within District as Sub-strata forest areas were Six villages in each Range selected randomly enumerated Trees on Private lands 100% enumeration of trees in the selected villages Panchayat lands Community lands Total Ranges in State = 68 (In 20 Districts) Institutional lands and Strips (Roads and Therefore, Total Villages Selected = 408 Canals). (~6% sample spread uniformly throughout the State) No. of Trees Outside Forests RESULTS (Species Wise) 20000000 Total Number of trees in the State = 75058815 18000000 (Approx. 75 Million) Average Tree density = 16.43 Trees per ha. 16000000 14000000 Number of Trees Poplar = Approx. 18 Million ( 24 % of Total) 12000000 Outside Forests Eucalyptus = Approx. 15 Million ( 20 % of Total) obtained for 20 Species 10000000 8000000 6000000 POPLAR IS THE 4000000 2000000 LEADER 0 4 IPC 24th Session, Dehradun Nov 2012 11/29/2012 Mewat % of Poplar Trees District Wise 0% Hisar Sonipat Significance for REDD+ 1% 0% Palwal Panipat 1% 0% Jind Sirsa Mahendergarh 0% 2% Rohtak 1. Reducing Deforestation Jhajjar 0% GurgaonFatehabad 0% Rewari 0% 0% 0% Faridabad 0% Karnal 0% Maximum occurrence of 3% Ambala Bhiwani 17% Kaithal Kurukshetra 0% 1% 1% Poplar in districts with high Morni-Pinjore 1% forest cover (Shiwaliks) Yamunanagar Ambala 2. Reducing Degradation Yamunanagar 73% Reduction of Pressure on Natural Forests For timber Fuelwood Significance for REDD+ contd.. Significance for REDD+ Contd.. 3. Conservation of Forests 5. Enhancement of Protected Areas in vicinity Forest Carbon Kalesar National Park (Yamunanagar) Stocks Mandhana Wildlife Sanctuary (Panchkula) Through Carbon Other Protected Forests in vicinity Sequestration in 18 4. Sustainable Management of Forests Million Poplar trees Roughly 9.7 Million Ecological Security Tons of CO2 in Economic Feasibility Haryana alone Social Acceptance Assuming 27 t CO2 per ha and 500 trees per ha. 5 IPC 24th Session, Dehradun Nov 2012 11/29/2012 Role of ICFRE Providing policy inputs for REDD+ for Poplar cultivation has got communication to UNFCCC tremendous potential for all Starting REDD+ Pilot Projects in the States of the five components of Uttarakhand and Gujarat REDD+ Providing technical support to all States on agro-forestry and Poplar cultivation Now plans to synergize the research efforts with the new climate mechanism Conclusions REDD+ is an innovative way to mitigate climate change through sustainable development Poplar cultivation has got tremendous potential in all components of REDD+ Especially for agricultural States like Haryana Must start piloting REDD+ Some of the Challenges REDD+ Finance MRV Protocols for Poplar Safeguard issues 6.