Having unveiled its Rs 44,000 crore 'Green Mission' aiming to enhance its forest cover, India hopes to secure global funding to undertake the ambitious programme to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
At a presentation at the Oslo Conference on Climate and Forests on Thursday, Environment Secretary Vijai Sharma said, "Since the bulk of India's biodiversity is in forests, there is a need to put REDD (Reducing Emissions From
Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and Plus programme on the same footing, as envisaged in Bali Action Plan."
REDD is a policy that aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and requires the developed world to finance and give
incentives to governments of developing nations for preserving forests.
However, as countries like India and China are not likely to benefit from REDD, New Delhi is pushing for REDD Plus track to provide finances for efforts to conserve forest areas, adopt environment friendly methods and plant new trees.
Presenting India's case, Sharma gave details about the proposed 'Green India Mission' that seek to double the rate of afforestation and eco-restoration and said the aim is to develop forests as carbon sinks to control greenhouse gas
emissions.
He made it clear that India believed that "REDD needs to be seen in the broader context of REDD plus, not in isolation."
Environment Minister of India Jairam Ramesh too had recently said that funding for the Green Mission would be from the Planning Commission and from global sources under the REDD plus.
The Oslo meet which was attended by leaders and representatives from 52 countries aimed to arrive at an interim partnership arrangement for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) in developing countries.