India's Green India Mission Roadmap

Comprehensive Summary of the News Article on the National Mission for Green India

The Indian government, on June 17, 2023, unveiled a revised roadmap for the National Mission for Green India (GIM), part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) initiated in 2014. The GIM focuses on increasing forest and green cover while prioritizing the restoration of crucial ecosystems such as the Aravalli ranges, Western Ghats, and mangroves to combat climate change effectively.

Key Objectives and Achievements:

• Core Objectives: The GIM aims to increase forest cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of forest cover on a similar area, while also tackling land degradation and desertification.
• Achievements: From 2015-2021, GIM facilitated tree plantation over 11.22 million hectares. The Central Government provided ₹624.71 crore to 18 states for GIM interventions between 2019-2024, with ₹575.55 crore already utilized.

Revised Roadmap Features:

• The revised document reflects on-ground climate impacts and incorporates feedback from states and scientific institutions.
• A central theme is region-specific restoration activities in vulnerable landscapes, particularly in the Aravallis, Western Ghats, and Himalayas.
• The Green Wall project, aimed at combating degradation in the Aravalli range, will sync with GIM efforts. This project targets restoration across 8 lakh hectares, spanning 29 districts in four states, with an estimated budget of ₹16,053 crore to create a 5 km buffer zone around the Aravalli range.

Land Degradation and Carbon Sequestration:

• Extent of Land Degradation: Approximately one-third of India’s land (97.85 million hectares) faced degradation as of 2019, as noted in the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas.
• National Commitments on Climate Change: India has committed to establish an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 via forest and tree cover by 2030 and to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land.
• Projected CO2 Sequestration: GIM strategies, including the restoration of impaired open forests, could sequester around 1.89 billion tonnes of CO2 over approximately 15 million hectares. Additionally, if ongoing schemes align optimally, forest cover expansion could reach 24.7 million hectares, potentially yielding a carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.

Implications:

The mission's revised roadmap reflects India's commitment to carbon neutrality through ecological restoration and sustainable forest management. The initiatives tied to GIM could significantly enhance the resilience of ecosystems while supporting local community livelihoods dependent on forest resources.

Additional Information:

• Background of GIM: Launched in 2014, GIM is crucial for addressing climate change. It has focused on improving both forest cover and environmental conditions linked to community security.
• Economic Impact: The funding and initiatives under GIM may stimulate local economies through job creation in forest management and related sectors.

Important Bullet Points:

• Revised roadmap for the National Mission for Green India released on June 17, 2023.
• GIM focuses on increasing forest cover, restoring ecosystems, and combating land degradation.
• Achieved tree plantation over 11.22 million hectares from 2015-2021.
• The Centre allocated ₹624.71 crore for GIM interventions in 18 states between 2019-2024.
• Green Wall project aims to restore the Aravalli range with an estimated cost of ₹16,053 crore.
• One-third of India's land faced degradation as of 2019, impacting climate initiatives.
• India aims for a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030 and to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land.
• GIM's robust strategies could lead to significant carbon sequestration and enhance ecological resilience.

The comprehensive measures under the GIM signify a pivotal shift towards sustainable development, addressing pressing environmental challenges while fostering community prosperity.