Business Wire IndiaLauding the efforts of NCCF Shri C.K. Mishra, Secretary, MoEF&CC said that India has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to the UNFCCC, wherein it is committed tocreate an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 Gt CO2 equivalent through enhancement of forest and tree cover by 2030 to achieve a target of 33% cover. A policy framework that encourages tree cover growth and improvesdensity of forests is necessary to actualize carbon sequestration benefits to meet INDC. Forest Certification is an emerging market based non-regulatory conservation tool thatpromotessustainable forest management and addresses to the concerns for environmental protection as well as social and economic welfare. Mr Mishra desired that NCCF should partner with the Ministry in arriving at a well thought out policy and action plan to achieve the target of 33% forest and tree cover.”   Shri Siddhanta Das, DG, Forests & Special Secretary, MoEF&CC, highlighted that India haspracticed scientific management of forests since 1864, built upon the principles of sustainability.Initially,the forest management had primacy for timber extraction, but now there isparadigm shiftto achieve sustainable ecosystems and sustained availability of ecosystem services and livelihoods of tribals and otherforest dependent communities.   Mr.Vijai Sharma, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, NCCF, informed that “NCCF is well placed to take stock of our present knowledge and identify future work for sustaining our forests, preserving biodiversity and preventing desertification. Trees outside Forests including Agroforestry and Urban Forestry offer good potential to achieve the target of 33% forest and tree cover. All such efforts need to be built around strengthening partnerships amongst theforest-based stakeholders and income growth of the most vulnerable, fulfilment of basic minimum needs and environmental protection. He also suggested that CAMPA funds may be extended to agroforestry projects also.   Mr.Sachin Raj Jain, Convener & Treasurer, NCCF, added, “NCCF is simultaneously developing the certification standards for the Trees outside Forests (ToF ), Protected Areas and Wetlands (PAWs) and Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs). We are also planning to initiate the process for development of other sustainable standards for sustainable ecotourism and sustainable mining.”    According  to Mr . Suneel Pandey, Secretary, NCCF, “State Forest Development Corporations and State Forest Departments have an immense scope of entering the certified products market and get a premium value for their produce.  The need for it:Ministries, industry bodies & companies who participated in developing the standard:Mr.Avani Kumar VermaFor more information, please visitAbout NCCF in brief
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