Govt plans tree credits, village forests to improve green cover

NAGPUR: The Maharashtra government will soon introduce the concepts of 'tree credit' and 'village forests' to improve green cover in the state. Both initiatives will be implemented by the social forestry department (SFD).

Elaborating on both concepts, Nitin Raut, minister for EGS and water conservation, said that Maharashtra would be the first state to introduce them. These concepts aim to improve the green cover of the state.

Elaborating on both concepts, Nitin Raut, minister for EGS and water conservation, said that Maharashtra would be the first state to introduce them. These concepts aim to improve the green cover of the state.

The tree credit will make conditions favourable for people to proactively grow and protect trees, by giving them appropriate, periodic financial returns. Explaining the working strategy, Raut said tree credits will be awarded in the form of certificates to growers, who may be individuals, institutions, industries etc, from time to time by the SFD or the forest department till the tree attains silvicultural maturity.

The tree credit will make conditions favourable for people to proactively grow and protect trees, by giving them appropriate, periodic financial returns. Explaining the working strategy, Raut said tree credits will be awarded in the form of certificates to growers, who may be individuals, institutions, industries etc, from time to time by the SFD or the forest department till the tree attains silvicultural maturity.

"The certificates would be like shares, whose market price would fluctuate according to demand and supply at a given point of time. The role of the government would be establishing linkage between growers and agencies wanting to surrender tree credits," Raut said. The basic idea is to give livelihood to rural youths by way of market-oriented forestry.

"The certificates would be like shares, whose market price would fluctuate according to demand and supply at a given point of time. The role of the government would be establishing linkage between growers and agencies wanting to surrender tree credits," Raut said. The basic idea is to give livelihood to rural youths by way of market-oriented forestry.

Highlighting the concept of village forests, Raut said the policy envisages developing government wasteland or forest land notified under section 29 of the Indian Forest Act 1927. A working plan will be prepared for such lands, with prescriptions for scientific management of every village forest.

Highlighting the concept of village forests, Raut said the policy envisages developing government wasteland or forest land notified under section 29 of the Indian Forest Act 1927. A working plan will be prepared for such lands, with prescriptions for scientific management of every village forest.

All provisions of the Indian Forest Act related to reserve forests will apply to such village forests. This will provide legal force for protection of the forests.

All provisions of the Indian Forest Act related to reserve forests will apply to such village forests. This will provide legal force for protection of the forests.

Raut said that two villages - Aarambhi in Narkhed taluka and Ashti in Beed - will be taken up to be developed as village forests. In Aarambhi, 250 hectare wasteland will be developed as forest. Both pilot projects will be implemented by the SFD.

Raut said that two villages - Aarambhi in Narkhed taluka and Ashti in Beed - will be taken up to be developed as village forests. In Aarambhi, 250 hectare wasteland will be developed as forest. Both pilot projects will be implemented by the SFD.

Both concepts are the brainchild of Tasneem Ahmed, director general (DG) of social forestry, Maharashtra. Ahmed explained that polluting agencies are based in urban areas and tree growers in rural areas. "Sale-purchase of tree credits would be an effective means of investment (transfer) of money from urban to rural areas," he said. Polluting projects wanting clearance for land will be asked to produce tree credit certificates.

Both concepts are the brainchild of Tasneem Ahmed, director general (DG) of social forestry, Maharashtra. Ahmed explained that polluting agencies are based in urban areas and tree growers in rural areas. "Sale-purchase of tree credits would be an effective means of investment (transfer) of money from urban to rural areas," he said. Polluting projects wanting clearance for land will be asked to produce tree credit certificates.

Raut said carbon sequestration will be another issue tackled by growing trees. If conditions demand, a minimum support price would be fixed for tree credits. On its effective monitoring, the government is also mulling to appoint a Tree Credit Council, which will decide modalities.

Raut said carbon sequestration will be another issue tackled by growing trees. If conditions demand, a minimum support price would be fixed for tree credits. On its effective monitoring, the government is also mulling to appoint a Tree Credit Council, which will decide modalities.

Both concepts will be in line with the National Forest Policy (NFP) 1988, which specifies that green cover in the state should be 33%. "It is impossible to achieve this unless all vacant land fit for growing trees of long rotation in the state are brought under tree cover with the involvement of people," said Raut.

On the time frame for its implementation, Raut said the policy has been finalized. "We will place the policy in the winter session of the assembly in Nagpur. Once approved, a formal GR will be issued," said Raut.

Head of forest force (HOFF) AK Joshi and SK Sood, managing director of FDCM, were also present at the meeting.

BOX

What are tree credits

• It is a market forestry concept based on improving livelihood of the people. It involves saving trees from being cut
• It is based on the idea that polluter should pay. In order to maintain continuity of carbon sequestration to the optimum level, trees will have to be harvested by the tree grower after it attains age of maturity
• Tree grower will be awarded tree credits from time to time by the government. Tree credits will be confined to selected timber yielding species
• Under the arrangement, procurement of tree credits from tree growers would mean required number of trees have already been planted and have reached maturity, in lieu of trees to be felled