REDD+
IORA has pioneered the development of community based REDD+ programs and policies in India. Our REDD+ approach ensures efficiency and equity through thorough scientific analysis, extensive stakeholder engagement, community involvement, rigorous trainings and public-private partnerships.
Our REDD+ services include:
- Developing REDD+ Reference Emission Levels (RELs)
- Development and implementation of jurisdictional and national REDD+ Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system
- Identification and spatial mapping of drivers of degradation, deforestation and forest change
- Identification of REDD+ intervention activities
- Development of REDD+ Project Design Documents (PDDs), Safeguards Information System (SIS) and Benefit Sharing Mechanism
- Multi-tier training of Forest Department personnel and communities
PROJECTS
India’s First REDD+ Manual for Practitioners
IORA, in association with IIFM and MoEFCC, designed a REDD+ manual, intended to serve as a quick-access guide for forestry practitioners and end users that brought considerable clarity on REDD+ concepts and issues. The manual also initiated actions for REDD+ readiness for India
| Duration | Sep. 2012-Dec. 2012 |
| Client Name | Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, MoEFCC, GoI |
India Specific REDD+ Methodology
IORA with GIZ India has developed a REDD+ARR Methodology as per Verified Carbon Standard. This methodology will be used for developing REDD+ projects in Indian landscapes facing mosaic deforestation and degradation. Various aspects including mapping of drivers and agents of forest change, development of baselines, quantification of emissions from pools, stakeholder engagements, and monitoring structure have been detailed in the methodology. It also helped project developers to bring down transaction costs while developing REDD+ projects efficiently.
| Duration | April 2014-May 2016 |
| Client Name | GIZ India, MoEFCC, GoI |
REDD+ Reference Policy Document
IORA supported the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India to develop a REDD+ Reference policy document for India for 2014. IORA contributed to designing the institutional arrangement for REDD+ in India and assigned roles and responsibilities to MoEFCC, Forest Survey of India (FSI), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), State Forest Department, Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committees, Panchayats and Gram Sabhas. IORA also designed governance and safeguard mechanisms to ensure that REDD+ implementation supports the rights of local communities and indigenous tribals along with biodiversity conservation in forests.
The complete document can be accessed here:
http://envfor.nic.in/sites/default/files/press-releases/Reference%20Document%20For%20REDD+%20in%20India.pdf
| Duration | 2014 |
| Client Name | MoEFCC, GoI |
India’s First REDD+ Project in Garo Hills
IORA, in association with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc), developed a community-based REDD+ project to address shifting cultivation trends in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya. This project focused on conserving stretches of high biodiversity forests which are elephant corridors as well. Activities implemented under this project include evaluation of services provided by forests and alignment of rural livelihood options. The project area covered a south-east to north-west trending corridor, extending from Balpakram National Park in South Garo Hills to Tura in West Garo Hills.
| Location | Meghalaya |
| Duration | June 2011-Jan. 2015 |
| Client Name | Wildlife Trust of India |
Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) Phase II
The project aims to improve forest ecosystem by promoting sustainable forest management. IORA was engaged in a preparatory survey to prepare plans for REDD+ related activities including estimation of the cost and carbon benefit/emission reduction in partnership with Nippon Koei India Pvt. Ltd. under Phase II of Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP).
The Phase-II of the project was implemented in 18 districts and 15 Forest Divisions. The objective was to improve forest eco-systems through sustainable forest management involving tribal communities. About 4.8 lakh ha of degraded forest will be restored and an additional 50,000 ha of farm forestry will be developed. 11 forest divisions covered in 1st phase have also been included for up-scaling income generation processes and livelihood support.
| Location | Japan |
| Duration | Sep. 2016- Ongoing |
| Client Name | Nippon Koei, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) |
Estimation of Potential Value of Ecosystem Services and Development of REDD+ Project for Assam
IORA has developed a pilot Jurisdictional REDD+ project in Assam to enable successful integration of multiple sustainable forest management interventions with emphasis on income generation and livelihood security. It involved Land Use and Land Cover analyses to develop a REDD+ baseline; setting up an interdepartmental REDD+ Cell and a departmental REDD+ Task Force in the State. The monitoring plan was developed post consultations with stakeholders. This project aimed to leverage additional national and international financing. IORA also trained forest department personnel on REDD+ activities.
| Location | Assam |
| Duration | April 2016- Nov. 2017 |
| Client Name | Assam Projects on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Society (APFBC) |
Fostering Community Forest Management in Nagaland
IORA collaborated with TERI, to develop a community-based forest conservation REDD+ project with emphasis on livelihood benefits from sustainable land use practices in the PKR (Phenstunyu Khenyupj Rumesinyu) Reserve in Nagaland. The project aimed to improve rural livelihood through sustainable management of forests, forest conservation, enhancement of forest carbon stock and production of long-term verifiable voluntary emission reductions by carbon sequestration. The interventions have resulted in reduced pressure on natural resources in the community forest land. IORA also studied potential markets for carbon and other ecosystems services to benefit Nagaland’s communities.
| Location | Nagaland |
| Duration | May 2012-April 2015 |
| Client Name | The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), India |