India’s Forest Carbon Storage May Nearly Double by 2100

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• A recent study published in Environmental Research: Climate highlights that India’s forests could store nearly twice as much carbon by 2100 under different climate change scenarios.

Carbon storage by India’s forests

• India’s forests act as a significant carbon sink by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in biomass and soil.
• According to the Forest Survey of India, the total forest carbon stock increased from 6.94 billion tonnes in 2013 to 7.29 billion tonnes in 2023.
• The carbon stock includes carbon stored in above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, dead wood, litter, and soil organic carbon.

Key Findings of the Study

• The study projects that vegetation carbon biomass in India may increase significantly by the end of the century under all emission pathways.
• The increase in forest carbon is primarily driven by higher precipitation and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
• Spatial Patterns of Change: 
  • The highest relative increase in vegetation carbon is expected in arid and semi-arid regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and western Madhya Pradesh.
  • These regions may witness more than 60% increase in vegetation carbon under high-emission scenarios due to improved moisture conditions.
  • Regions such as the Trans-Himalayas, the Gangetic plains, and the Deccan Plateau are also projected to experience moderate increases.
  • Biodiversity-rich regions such as the Western Ghats and the Himalayas are expected to show relatively smaller increases due to ecological saturation and climatic constraints.

Significance of increased Carbon storage

• Forest carbon storage plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation by reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases.
• Creation of Carbon Sink: India has committed to creating a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2035 under Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

What are the Concerns?

• The projected increase in carbon storage does not imply that climate change is beneficial for forests.
• Risks such as deforestation, land-use change, forest fires, pests, and extreme weather events can reverse gains.
• Climate change may lead to ecosystem instability and sudden carbon release.

Steps Taken by India to Enhance Forest Carbon Storage

• The Green India Mission focuses on afforestation, reforestation, and restoration of degraded forest landscapes.
• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (CAMPA) ensures that forest land diverted for non-forest use is compensated by afforestation activities elsewhere.
• India promotes agroforestry through the National Agroforestry Policy, encouraging farmers to integrate trees with crops and livestock systems.
• India is a signatory to the Bonn Challenge, committing to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
• Urban forestry initiatives, including the Nagar Van Yojana, aim to create green spaces in cities, contributing to carbon sequestration and improved air quality.
• India participates in global initiatives such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) to enhance carbon sequestration and access climate finance.

Way Ahead

• There is a need to strengthen protection of existing dense forests, as mature forests store significantly more carbon and are more resilient than newly planted forests.
• Afforestation programmes must prioritise native and diverse species, avoiding monoculture plantations that provide limited ecological and carbon benefits.
• Forest management strategies must be region-specific and climate-informed, especially for vulnerable zones such as semi-arid regions, Himalayan ecosystems, and coastal forests.

Source: TH