Improving Rural Livelihoods
through Carbon
Sequestration by adopting
environment friendly
technology based agroforestry practices
VEDA MACS Ltd
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• The state of eco-systems
– Population is expected to grow by 8 – 10 billion by 2050
– Per capita income is projected to increase by two to four fold
– A further 10 – 20% of grassland and forestland is projected to
be converted to cultivated uses by 2050
– Invasive alien species are set to continue to spread
– Demand for food crops is projected to grow by 70 – 85% by
2050.
Ward & Woods (2011) The future of democracy in the Face of
Climate Change, Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable
Development
Problem-1
Global Warming
Problem-3
Degraded Land in tropical
countries like India
Inability to
adapt
Market based mechanisms for
GHGs sinks /reduction
Such as CDM or Voluntary
Markets
Inability to
Invest
Low
Income
Problem-2
Poor Incomes in Agriculture
/Rural sectors
Tradability and
generation of
CERs/VERs
Land Based Project Activities
such as Agro/Farm forestry and
other GHG reduction activities
Creation of CER/ VERs
Additional income in the form of
carbon revenues leading to Improved
Livelihoods
PILOT PROJECT WITH BIO
CARBON FUND OF THE WORLD
BANK
• “Improving Rural Livelihoods Through
Carbon Sequestration By Adopting
Environment Friendly Technology Based
Agro-forestry Practices”
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
Vanitha (Women) Empowerment,
Development and Advancement (VEDA)
Mutually Aided Cooperative (MAC) Society
Ltd. /
VEDA Climate Change Solutions Ltd
JK Paper Ltd., Rayagada
PROJECT DETAILS
Total land for plantations: 1,600 ha.
No. of farmer participants: 1580
Carbon Sequestered: 60 t/ha
(assuming 120 MT yield/ha)
Value of traded CO2: 4 USD/t
DESCRIPTION OF THE
PROJECT
• This A/R CDM project activity
mobilized resource-poor farmers
to raise tree plantations on
farmlands.
• The project was implemented in
the two states of India: Orissa
and Andhra Pradesh.
• Project Status – Validated and
registered
• The participation of small and
marginal farmers representing
indigenous communities as part
of the CDM A/R made this project
unique in contributing to their
land use choice, improvement of
livelihood opportunities and in
promoting their capacity to
organize and implement climate
change mitigation initiatives.
DESCRIPTION OF THE
PROJECT
The specific objectives of the project
include:
•To pilot reforestation activities for
generating high-quality greenhouse gas
removals by sinks that can be
measured, monitored and verified;
•To develop plantation and agro
forestry models, which can provide
multiple benefits to farmers in terms of
timber, firewood and non-wood forest
products;
•To provide additional income and to
promote livelihoods of resource poor
farmers through carbon revenues.
•To reforest degraded lands to control
soil and water erosion and reclaim
lands.
•To reduce the dependence of industry
on natural forests thereby conserving
biodiversity.
•To
build
capacity
of
various
stakeholders to benefit from global
mechanisms.
OBJECTIVES
• To mobilize and encourage small and marginal farmers
to raise plantations of tree species with high rates of
carbon sequestration in their farmlands.
• To link, facilitate and coordinate with international
organizations, carbon financing companies, financial
institutions, Government and non governmental
organizations, paper industry etc.,
• To optimize the overall returns to the small and
marginal farmers
• Generate additional income from carbon credits to the
farmers
OBJECTIVES
• To promote farmer-industry partnerships with binding
agreements to purchase wood.
• Encourage farmers to go for agro-forestry practices.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES
 Identification of small and marginal farmers
• Arrange seedlings to the farmers to raise high density
plantations.
• Provide advice and training in Agronomy, Soil
Conservation, best plantation practices and use of
environmental friendly technology by experts.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES
• Developed and strengthened the capacity of small and
marginal farmers, govt. and NGOs to enhance their
negotiation skills and to take advantage of the
international mechanisms.
• Conservation of biodiversity through reducing
dependence on natural forests
LOCAL BENEFITS
• Would benefit the local small and marginal farmers in
getting higher rate of financial return from their lands.
• Will generate productive self employment to small
farmers and their family members
• Will bring the degraded farm lands into appropriate land
use by adopting best agro-forestry practices
• Will help in soil conservation and will check soil erosion.
LOCAL BENEFITS
• Carbon loss from the soil would be arrested and will
improve the productivity of the land.
• Local paper industry would be able to meet their wood
requirements and their dependence on natural forests
would be reduced.
• The capacity of the small and marginal farmers is
enhanced through training.
GLOBAL BENEFITS
• Sequestering atmospheric carbon and conserve soil
carbon.
• Reduced dependence on natural forests will help in
conservation of biodiversity and the natural forests
would continue to sequester carbon and act as
repositories of carbon.
GLOBAL BENEFITS
• Demonstration effect: The project will establish best
practices and will serve as a model for others to emulate
both within and outside the country.
• Empowerment: The project will empower the
stakeholders to undertake activities based on principles
of sustainable development and will improve their
livelihoods.
CAPACITY BUILDING
• Capacity building of multiple stakeholders to tackle
and manage these new opportunities on the ground.
• Take advantage of opportunities for agro-forestry that
might arise from ‘free-market’ approaches to sustainable
land use and management.
• Opportunity to sell a new “crop” in the international
carbon market through agro-forestry which will also
help in improving rural livelihoods.