Increasing tree cover is vital.

India’s Need for Tree Plantation and Carbon Sequestration

• India’s forest and tree cover is below the 33% target set by the National Forest Policy of 1988, affecting climate change mitigation and supporting industrial growth.

• Large-scale afforestation programs are needed to enhance tree cover, improve soil health, recharge groundwater, retain water, reduce soil erosion, and enhance resilience against extreme weather events.

• India has introduced policies and initiatives to accelerate afforestation efforts, including the National Agroforestry Policy (2014) and the Trees Outside Forests in India Program.

• The Green India Mission has been instrumental in reviving degraded forests and promoting sustainable forest management.

• Corporations in sectors like automobile manufacturing, cement, and energy have undertaken afforestation projects to offset emissions.

• International regulations, such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, are imposing tariffs on carbon-intensive imports, impacting Indian exporters.

• Large-scale afforestation initiatives create millions of jobs, especially in nursery management, forest conservation, and agroforestry.

• Agroforestry, which integrates trees into agricultural systems, enhances soil fertility, provides additional income, and increases resilience to droughts and erratic weather conditions.

• Government and non-governmental organizations provide financial incentives, training, and capacitybuilding programs to support community-led afforestation.

• Policy recommendations include establishing a transparent national carbon credit registry, a robust carbon trading policy, and financial incentives to encourage private-sector investments in afforestation.