New Delhi – The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has become the first Designated Operational Entity (DOE) in India to be accredited by the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism to validate and certify functions in the sectoral scope of ‘Afforestation and Reforestation’ (A/R).
The Clean Development Mechanism is a program under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which allows emission-reduction projects in developing countries to earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2. These CER credits can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. CDM projects can be developed in different sectors like energy, transport, forestry, etc. In the forestry sector, afforestation and reforestation are the only activities permitted.
The ICFRE is an apex body in the national forestry research system. The Council deals with solution-based forestry research in tune with the emerging issues of the sector, including climate change, conservation of biological diversity, combating desertification and sustainable management and development of resources. The ICFRE applied for DOE status of UNFCCC on 17th July 2009 and received accreditation this February at the 59th meeting of the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM EB).
Significance of this Decision
Keeping in view the high cost involved in the formulation of Afforestation/Reforestation CDM projects in India, the success of ICFRE in getting the DOE status is of great importance. It is estimated that developing an A/R CDM project with the existing methodology requires an estimated Rs. 60 lakh. It is considered that if an organization like ICFRE becomes successful in getting the DOE status, the cost of A/R CDM project development will come down, and Indian project proponents will be in a better position to harness the benefit of CDM instruments. As of today, 19 A/R CDM projects have been registered globally, of which 3 are from India (Haryana Project; ITC, Bhadrachalam Project in AP; and, TIST Project in TN).
The accreditation to the ICFRE is valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance and will allow the ICFRE to verify and certify any and all projects pertaining to afforestation and/or reforestation across the country. Globally, CDM EB has accredited 12 Designated Operational Entities (DOEs) for CDM Afforestation and Reforestation Projects. Out of these 12 DOEs, only 2 were from developing countries (Korea and Colombia), and none were from India. The accreditation of ICFRE is certain to provide a fillip to forestry projects in the country.
Source: Press Release from MoEF, Government of India, dated February 24, 2011.
