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FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE Quarterly Newsletter on Climate Change by Gujarat State Center on Climate Change (GSCCC) ISSUE 7, APRIL - 2022

Message from the Director Dear Readers, R. K. SUGOOR, IFS It is with great pleasure that, I present the seventh issue of \"Climate Actions,\" the GEER Foundation's quarterly newsletter on climate change. This quarter especially focuses on Forests and the impacts of Director, GEER Foundation Climate Change. Interestingly, for the first time, countries' efforts to offset their carbon emissions from fossil fuel consumption and other sources through the planting or protection of forests were included in the 2015 Paris climate deal. Recently, at Glasgow COP26, leaders from 141 nations covenanted to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, by stepping up efforts to protect and restore forests and other terrestrial ecosystems, as well as accelerating their restoration. Trees have become one of the most popular weapons in the battle against global warming. In fact, no one disputes the importance of trees to the ecosystem, since they provide an array of ecological, economic and social services as well as house a significant portion of all of Earth's terrestrial species. Deforestation and land use changes, on the other hand, are responsible for 17% of all human- caused carbon dioxide emissions. If we count forest economy, at least Rs. 1,100 crore is lost every year to forest fires in India, as per the joint report of MoEFCC & World bank. Our valuable environment and biodiversity are being ravaged by intense forest fires, which have forced millions of vulnerable populations into an abysmal poverty trap. In order to have continuous flow of forest services and benefits one should ensure its conservation/ preservation for meeting long term sustainable goals of livelihood and food security, conserving life on land and mitigating climate change. Many aspects of Forests and their vital function in the global climate system are covered under this newsletter. Additionally, it reveals the current state of forests throughout the world and in particular, the dangers posed by forest degradation. It demonstrates a wide range of conservation efforts at various governmental and non-governmental levels. For current issue, we've relied on data from the flagship publications of the UN bodies, IPCC and other international organizations, as well as non-governmental groups. We also present climate news, quotes, photo story, 'did you know..?' section and cartoon strip besides some highlights of GEER Foundation's ongoing projects on climate change. We hope you will find this issue to be both fascinating and useful in its content. Change of Forest Cover cover. There is no guarantee that these areas are part of a Registered Forest Area. World Scenario uThere is 19.54% increase in Very Dense Forests (VDF) u According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, 30.8% of the world's geographical area is covered by forests between 2011 and 2021 is primarily responsible for the rise in (FAO, 2020). In 2020, the total global forests area is 4.06 total forest cover. The tree canopy density in Open Forest billion hectares; however they are not evenly distributed (OF) increased by 6.71% whereas it decreased by 4.32% in around the entire globe. More than half of the world's forests Moderately Dense Forest (MDF). are found in only five nations i.e. Russia (20%), Brazil (12%), Canada (9%), the United States of America (8%), and China uMadhya Pradesh have the highest (11%) of its land covered (5%), and two-thirds (66%) are found in just 10 countries among which India has 2% (i.e. 72 million hectares) of world's by forests among Indian states, followed by Arunachal forest area. Decadal Change of Forest Cover in India u As per Global Forest Goals Report-2021, worldwide forest (Source : https://www.adda247.com/) area decreased by 1.2% between 2010 and 2020, with declines concentrated in Africa and South America. However, since 1990, within this worldwide trend, Asia, Europe, and Oceania exhibits net increases in forest area and between 2010 and 2020 the forest area of these regions increased by 1.1%. Scenario of India u The average yearly net growth in forest area in India between 2010 and 2020 was third in the world. India has increased its forest area including scrub area significantly over the past decade, adding an average of 2612.5 Sq. km additional forest area, every year during the period. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019, the total forest and tree cover in India was 807276 Sq.km. accounting to 24.56% of the Total Land Area and as per ISFR, 2021 the total forest and tree cover in India is 809537 Sq. km. This shows an increase of 0.07% or 2261 Sq. km. increase in the area. u According to the ISFR, 2021, \"Registered Forest Area\" refers to the area of land designated as forest by the Government. All land having a tree canopy density of more than 10%, regardless of ownership or legal status, is considered forest Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter Issue - 7, April - 2022 2

Pradesh (9%), Chhattisgarh (8%), Odisha (7%) and 12000 9835 Maharashtra (7%). 10000 uIn terms of percent of state geographic area covered by forest Area in Sq. Km 8000 5463 5091 6000 in 2021, the top five states are Mizoram (85%), Arunachal 4000 4016 4053 Pradesh (79%), Meghalaya (76%), Manipur (74%), and Nagaland (74%). 2000 356 1016 22 u In 2021, the top five states having VDF are Arunachal Pradesh (21%), Maharashtra (9%), Odisha (7%), 0 Chhatisgarh (7%) and Madhya Pradesh (7%). VDF MDF OF Total VDF MDF OF Total Scenario of Gujarat Forest Cover Inside the Recorded Forest Forest Cover Outside the Recorded uAccording to ISFR, in 2021, the total forest and tree cover in Area Forest Area Gujarat is 20415 sq. Km, which is 10.40% of the geographical Forest Cover Inside and Outside Recorded Forest Area (or Green Wash) in area of the state. Gujarat (ISFR, 2021) Climate Change and Forest Cover of India Decadal Change of Forest Cover in Gujarat u According to the ISFR, 2021, over half of India's forest and tree cover (315667 square kilometres, or 45%) has the uDuring the assessment period (2011-2021) the highest potential to become 'climate hotspots’, or places that are predicted to be affected by climate change. Nearly 64% of increase in forest cover are observed in Panchmahal (162.79 India's forest and tree cover is expected to be affected by km2) (presently Panchmahal district is divided into climate change by the year 2050. India's green cover is predicted to see a temperature rise of 1.5 to 2.1 degrees Panchmahal, Chhotaudepur and Mahisagar districts) Celsius. Similarly, climate change hotspots will also face ±20- followed by Kachchh district (140.48 km2), Junagadh & Gir 26 % change in rainfall pattern. Somnath district (130.83 km2) and Navsari (74.08 km2). The u More than 84% of Chhattisgarh's forest area is at risk of decrease of forest cover has been recorded in Ahmedabad, becoming one of the most vulnerable areas in the country to climate change. As a result of climate change, 65% of Anand, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Dahod, Kheda, Narmada, Madhya Pradesh's forests would be affected. Climate change will have an impact on around 47% of tropical wet deciduous Surendranagar, Surat, Tapi, The Dangs and Vadodara forests and 40% of tropical semi-evergreen forests, respectively. From 2050 onwards, the entire 520280 square Districts of Gujarat state. kilometres of the top three dominant forest types would be affected by climate change. As a result of climate change, forests in broad portions of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, northern Odisha, and western Jharkhand would be affected by unfavorable climate change impacts by 2050 (ISFR, 2021). Forest Cover Change Matrix for Gujarat in Sq. Km (ISFR,2021) 100Area falling within climate hotspot (in %) 2021 Assessment Total 90 Class ISFR 80 VDF MDF OF Scrub NF 2019 70 2030 60 VDF 378 0 0 0 0 378 50 2050 MDF 0 5022 5 1 64 5092 40 2085 30 OF 0 5 8966 49 367 9387 20 Scrub 0 0 254 2548 192 2994 10 Non Forest 0 5 291 230 177867 178393 (NF) 0 TropicTarlowpiectaTelrovspeeirmcgair-elemevneorifgsoLtrrieetdtesoeTntrcraoifdlopuariceonasudltssdfwroyaredmseTptScrToiufdropbouri-cpeotarisuocltsapdlifrcotyahreelosbvrnterorfSgaordureeSblese-unttabrovf-oteprrdioecMpashitlocildHnafrotliyamprneeianesvletaewyrfeogaHtrrneetiemsmemtnaoplifasoetyrreataesntmetdpfroeyrretaestmet pfoerrSeasutetb-faoMlrpeoisnistet faolrpeDinsrtey saclpruinbe scrub Total ISFR 378 5032 9516 2828 178490 196244 2021 Projection for forest Area falling within climate hotspot in 2030, 2050 and 2085, (ISFR, 2021) Net Change 0 -60 129 -166 97 There exists Inland mangroves too….! uThe state has reported forest cover inside the recorded forest Kachchh in Gujarat is one of the few places in the world to have inland mangroves. These unique mangroves area as 9785 Sq. km. and 9835 Sq. km. in 2019 and 2021, are located at a distance from the coast in Shravan respectively and Forest cover outside the recorded forest Kavadia and Guneri. Mangroves, by definition, are area as 5072 Sq. km. and 5091 Sq. km. in 2019 and 2021, small shrubs or trees that grow in saline or brackish respectively (ISFR, 2019,2021). water and are found in coastal areas. In India, Shravan Kawadiya and Guneri, both of which are fully landlocked, demonstrate an inexplicable existence of inland mangrove in Gujarat's Kachchh district. The Rann of Kachchh was a shallow sea two millennia ago, which is why there are so many mangroves in the inland area. As water receded, the soil was pushed up owing to a tectonic upheaval, resulting in the \"inland\" mangroves phenomenon and these mangroves survives due to the sub-terrain hydrological connects with saline water. As a result, the areas' remaining mangrove patch is part of an old bio-genetic pool. (Source:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334898443_Restoration_potential_of_de graded_inland_sacred_forest_of_Kachchh_Gujarat_An_evidence_of_shravan_kavadiya_sa cred_grove) Issue - 7, April - 2022 Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter 3

Deforestation and Forest u According to Global Forest Review statistics, the world lost Degradation more than 4.2 million hectares of primary tropical forests in 2020, an area greater than the United Kingdom. Tree cover uWorldwide, the most serious risks to forests come from loss increased in both the tropics and temperate zones, although the pace of increase was greatest in primary tropical deforestation and degradation. Conversion of forests to non- forests, which was fueled by increased deforestation and fire forest uses like agriculture and road development is a major in the Amazon, the world's biggest rainforest. cause of deforestation. Forest degradation is when forest ecosystems lose their ability to deliver critical goods and 30Mha services to humans and environment. 23M u Since the 1960s, more than half of the world's tropical forests have been destroyed, and every second, more than one 15M hectare of tropical forests is destroyed or severely degraded. Forests in Europe (an estimated 3.7 million hectares) are 7.5M also under tremendous and devastating strain from human activities, including livestock, pests, diseases, forest fires, 0 and other human-related activities. ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 ‘19 ‘20 u Both humid primary tropical forests and other types of tree Global Annual Tree Cover Loss 2001-2020 cover were affected by a variety of climate-related (Source: Global Forest Review) disturbances in 2020, which were largely human-caused losses. Some of the world's most arid regions have been hit u Primary Forest Loss In The World: A total of 64.7 million hard by drought-fueled wildfires, resulting in losses in places hectares of humid primary forest were lost globally between like the Brazilian Pantanal and Bolivia. 2002 and 2020, accounting for 16% of the total tree cover loss in the same timeframe. In this time span, the worldwide area u In Central America and Central Europe, storm and insect of humid primary forest declined by 6.3%. damage accelerated the loss of tree cover. There are two ways that forests affect the climate: first, they absorb carbon Drivers of tree cover loss by region (2001-2020) dioxide and release it when they are destroyed; second, they (Source: Global Forest Review) are directly affected by changes in temperature and precipitation patterns as a result of global warming. Fires in Annual Tree Cover Loss Globally late 2019 and early 2020 in Australia caused a nine-fold increase in 2020 in tree cover loss as compared to that of u Globally, tree cover has decreased by 10% since 2000, 2018. In Australia, Climate change is expected to increase the resulting in 411 Mha of lost tree cover and 165 Gt of CO2 frequency of wildfires. emissions between 2001 and 2020. u In 2020, Russia suffered high rates of tree cover loss as a u Both Russia and Canada, who have the second and third result of Siberian fires. In the spring and summer of 2020, highest overall tree cover, had a reversal in their tree cover Siberia had unusually high temperatures, which dried the loss rates in 2020. Tree cover loss in Russia increased by trees and led to widespread burning. This was likely caused 48% in 2020 as a result of high temperatures and big fires in by climate change. A record amount of carbon dioxide was Siberia and the Russian Far East (Source:https://news.mongabay.com/ emitted when fires raged in carbon-rich peatlands, which are normally frozen, further exacerbating the effects of global 2021/03/global-forest-loss-increases-in-2020-but-pandemics-impact-unclear/). warming (Source:https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/deforestation-and- u Around the world, deforestation was the primary cause of forest-degradation). 27% of the loss of tree cover between 2001 and 2019. Globally, the latest data reveals that forests are disappearing u Central Europe suffered historic levels of tree cover loss in at an alarming rate, with the greatest losses occurring in the 2020 and the previous year, with three-fold increases in most pristine ecosystems, which are responsible for a Germany and the Czech Republic compared with 2018. Bark disproportionate amount of biodiversity, carbon sequestration, beetles are to blame for a substantial portion of the increase, and indigenous communities. Drought, hotter temperatures, as the hot and dry weather linked with climate change has and more intense storms are just some of the effects of wreaked havoc on sensitive trees (Source:https://news.mongabay.com/ climate change that are already beginning to threaten forests. 2022/01/podcast-the-411-on-forests-and-reforestation-for-2022/). Forest Degradation in India Brazil u In 2021, India’s forest cover growth dropped to an eight - year low with only 0.22% growth compared to 0.85% in 2013 and DRC 0.94% in 2017, the highest in the prior decade. Bolivia Indonesia Peru Colombia Cameroon Laos Malaysia Mexico 0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000 1400000 1600000 1800000 Primary forest loss (hectares) Top 10 Countries for 2020 Primary Forest Loss (Source: Global Forest Review) Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter Issue - 7, April - 2022 4

u In the recent decade, the decline of forest cover in the North- incentive system that incorporates five activities: Eastern states has accelerated. Mizoram has the greatest Ä Decreasing emissions from deforestation, loss of forest cover over the previous decade with no signs of Ä Lowering emissions from forest degradation, recovery in sight. Overall, 11 states had a decrease in forest Ä Conserving forest carbon stocks, cover, including Delhi and West Bengal, which closely follow Ä Sustainable forest management, and the N-E states in forest loss. Ä Forest carbon stock improvement. u Between 2001 and 2020, the top 5 areas in India were (Source : https://www2.cifor.org/cobam/background/forests-and-mitigation) responsible for 60% of all tree cover reduction. Assam experienced the largest tree cover loss, with 269 kha u The role of trees and forests in climate change resilience is compared to an average of 55.2 kha, followed by Mizoram addressed in several ways by the IUCN's forest work: (247 kha), Nagaland (225 kha), Arunachal Pradesh (222 kha), and Manipur (222 kha). Ä Combating deforestation and forest degradation in biodiversity and culturally significant locations, such as Loss in Forest Cover in North Indian States (in sq km) primary forests and World Heritage sites. This helps to preserve the benefits that forests provide to people and States 2015 2017 2019 2021 societies, along with forest carbon stocks and livelihoods. 73 190 276 257 Ä Forest landscape restoration aids in climate change mitigation and adaptation. IUCN, as co-founder and 48 (+) 567 (+) 222 15 Secretariat of the Bonn Challenge, a global effort to restore (+) 4 (+) 263 499 249 350 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 71 27 73 2030, assists national and sub-national decision-makers in 116 achieving this important goal. If the 350 million hectare objective is met, up to 1.7 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide 306 531 180 186 equivalent might be sequestered annually. 1 9 21 55 164 0 4 Ä Enabling rights-based land use ensures that community members are involved in land-use decisions. IUCN creates u With respect to 2019 assessment, in 2021 Gujarat state outcomes on the ground through partners and initiatives shows overall increase in forest cover. Out of 33 districts in globally to assist increase community control over forests, Gujarat, 16 districts such as Ahmedabad, Anand, reduce poverty, empower women and men, promote Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Kheda, biodiversity and sustainably manage forests. Narmada, Navsari, Patan, Porbandar, Sabarkantha, Surat, Tapi, The Dangs and Vadodara exhibited decrease in forest Ä To ensure a sustainable and equitable supply of forest cover. products and services, it is vital to unlock forest benefits. IUCN works to build restoration capacity, engage the Forest Mitigation:Sink private sector, and ensure that benefits such as those from for CO2 Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) are shared equitably with local u Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), only landowners and forest communities. afforestation and reforestation initiatives are eligi. The project to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest Ä Today, more and more consumers are demanding forest degradation (REDD), which is currently at the forefront of products from sustainable sources and an increasing international negotiations, is based on financial incentives to number of major palm oil, timber, paper and other forest protect forests and maintain or grow carbon stores. A REDD+ product corporations are beginning the conversion to method has been proposed for funding not just forest deforestation the conversion to deforestation-free supply conservation but also forest carbon stock improvement (e.g. chains. through replanting) and sustainable forest management. (Source:https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change) An afforestation is described as \"the direct human-induced conversion of nonforest land u At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate to forest land by planting, seeding, or the Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP, 2015), India human-induced enhancement of natural seed covenanted to restore 13 million hectares (mha) of degraded sources\" afforestation (IPCC, 2007). and deforested land by 2020, with an additional 8 mha by 2030, as part of the Bonn Challenge. In the forestry sector, the IPCC LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forests) report specifies three Total mitigation needed to limit warming primary mitigation activities: to 1.5 degrees C: 1580 Gt C02e Ä Afforestation (converting long-time non-forested land to Forests and other forest); natural ecosystems Ä Reforestation (converting recently non-forested land to Climate - smart forest); agriculture Ä Avoided deforestation (avoiding the conversion of Agroforestry forests to non-forested land) Renewable u The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate energy Change (UNFCCC) developed the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme Energy efficiency to decrease emissions from tropical deforestation and forest Waste Management degradation in poor nations. It is a performance-based Transportation Other Between 2020 and 2050, climate solutions are compared in terms of their ability to cut GHG emissions and absorb carbon. Individual estimates for 78 climate solutions are included in the Drawdown Review 2020. Investors might evaluate their portfolios for opportunities and elevate solutions in investor-company dialogues, so solutions are grouped here. Issue - 7, April - 2022 Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter 5

u The Indian government is promoting afforestation and u Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest (2177 MT) has the highest reforestation through policies and programmes such as the carbon stock, followed by Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest National Mission on Green India, the National Afforestation (1303 MT) and Tropical Semi Evergreen Forest (686 Programme, compensatory afforestation, and state-level MT)(ISFR,2021). plantation drives. u In India total annual carbon uptake projected as 73.48 MT and u While deforestation poses significant supply chain risks, the annual carbon release to the atmosphere due to mitigating those risks through sustainable sourcing practices extraction of wood is estimated to be 66.69 MT for the year represents a significant business and environmental 2045. The net annual carbon uptake would thus be 6.79 MT opportunity. Eliminating deforestation and reforesting (0.02 Gt of CO2 equivalent) for the year 2045. With the previously cleared land could provide 16-23% of the climate presently reported rate of productivity of Indian forests and mitigation needed to keep warming between 1.5 and 2 plantations, the carbon sequestration potential of Indian degrees Celsius in 2100, as set out in the Paris Climate forests are thus estimated to be 9.8 Gt of CO2 by the year 2045 Agreement. That’s nearly three-quarters the mitigation (cumulative CO2 uptake from the atmosphere) (Lal & Singh, potential of all renewable energy technologies combined. 1998). (Source:https://engagethechain.org/investor-guide-deforestation-and-climate-change) u In India, The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) captured 102 million 11% GHG emission as a result of tonnes carbon dioxide (MTCO2) in 2017-18 through Deforestation….! plantations and soil quality improvement, the scheme’s capacity to sequester carbon dioxide may rise to 249 Tropical deforestation is responsible for 11% of all MTCO2 by 2030 (Source: https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/rural-job-scheme- human-caused global greenhouse gas emissions, which is similar to the emissions from all of the world's guarantees-carbon-sequestration/). passenger cars combined. Tropical forests have the highest carbon density and cover more land area than An alarming trend in rise of forest fires in India forests in any other biome. They also serve a vital role as a natural buffer to climate change capturing 2.2–2.7 Gt of carbon per year. Unfortunately, u FSI sensors reported 345000 forest fire occurrences between tropical forests, mangroves, and peatlands are also subjected to the highest November 2020 and June 2021, a 177% increase over the levels of deforestation and account for nearly all net emissions from Forestry number of incidents detected between November 2019 and and Other Land Use (1.1–1.4 Gt C / year). June 2020. The country's forest cover is predicted to be prone to regular forest fires in the range of 35.46%. There are (Source:https://www.cgdev.org/publication/why-maintaining-tropical-forests-essential-and- around 4.5% and 6.6% of the country's forest cover that is urgent-stable-climate-working-paper-385) severely and very fire-prone, respectively. More than 50000 fires were recorded in Odisha, followed by Madhya Pradesh ForestCarbonstockofIndia (47795) and Chhattisgarh (38106). The number of forest fires in Uttarakhand was the sixth-highest in the country, with an u The carbon stock of the country’s forest has shown an increase of 28.3% over the previous year. increase trend i.e. increase of 541 million tonnes (MT) between the period 2011 (6663 MT) and 2021 (7204 MT). u The carbon stock for 2021 has been assessed as 7204 MT, 2003 34696 which is an increase of 79.4 MT above the assessment of 2004 34695 2019. Annual carbon stock increases are estimated to be 2005 34694 39.7 MT, which is equivalent to 145.6 MT of CO2. Soil organic 2006 34693 carbon is the highest stock of forest carbon, accounting for 2007 34692 55.67%, followed by Above Ground Biomass (AGB 32.20%), 2008 34691 Below Ground Biomass (BGB 9.98%), Litter (1.49%), and 2009 34690 Dead wood (0.66%). 2010 34689 2011 34696 u Among 36 states of India, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest 2012 carbon stock (1023.84 MT), followed by Madhya Pradesh 2013 51760 (609.25 MT), Chhattisgarh (496.44 MT), and Maharashtra 2014 33287 (451.61 MT). On the other hand, Jammu & Kashmir, 2015 35527 contributes the highest carbon stock per hectare (173.41 2016 30673 tonnes/ha), followed by Himachal Pradesh (167.10 2017 tonnes/ha), Sikkim (166.24 tonnes/ha), and the Andaman & 42081 Nicobar Islands (162.86 tonnes/ha). 39145 4500 70 Carbon Stock in MT Carbon Stock net and annual400060 3500 Change in MT 50 2018 252504 3000 40 2019 213684 2500 30 2020 2000 20 2021 154032 1500 10 1000 0 386031 -10 No. of forest fire alerts in India (2003 – 2021) (ISFR, 2021) 500 -20 u According to the ISFR, 2021 research, climate change and other human influences, such as land conversion for 0 -30 agriculture and poor forest management, are the primary causes of a rise in forest fires. According to the research, AGB BGB Dead Litter Soil climate change and rising temperatures would harm 45-64% Wood of India's forests by 2030, making all but Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Nagaland the most susceptible. Climate change Carbon Stock in forest - 2021 is expected to have the greatest impact on Ladakh, which has Carbon Stock in forest - 2019 a forest cover of 0.1- 0.2% (ISFR, 2021) . Net Change in Carbon Stock Annual Change in Carbon Stok Forest Carbon stock under different carbon pools (ISFR, 2021) Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter Issue - 7, April - 2022 6

The Prime Minister said “Equitable energy access to the poor has domestic renewable energy target to 500 GW by 2030 and been a cornerstone of our environmental policy. India is a mega- establishing an ambitious National Hydrogen Mission diverse country and it is our duty to protect its ecology. Energy (AR6,2022). requirements of the people of India are expected to nearly double in the next twenty years. Denying this energy would be denying life u According to the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP), itself to millions. Since 2015, India has restored more than 11.5 million hectares between 2016 and 2021, Mumbai lost 2028 hectares of urban and is on track to achieve the national commitment of Land Degradation tree cover and this loss has resulted in annual CO2 emissions Neutrality under the Bonn Challenge. The PM added that Environmental of 19640.9 tonnes. sustainability can only be achieved through climate justice.\" u On this International Day of Forests, March 21, 2022, PM Modi on the occasion of The Twenty First Edition of the annual flagship Gujarat's Chief Minister announced a state-wide \"Namo Vad event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Van\" campaign to guide the country as part of the Azadi Ka the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), Amrit Mahotsav. “Namo Vad Van’’ will be set up at 75 locations on 16 Ferbruary’2022. across the state's 33 districts. Furthermore, the state government has budgeted Rs. 20 crore for the Bamboo (Source:https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/rene Mission project, which would encourage farmers to plant wable/india-haswalked-the-talk-on-commitments-to-deal-with- bamboo in 5891 hectares. The Minister further stated that at climate-change-pm-modi/89644976) Gujarat's 72nd Van Mahotsav, a decision was made to plant 10 crore trees. Climate News Photo Story uThe Union Budget 2022-23 also knows as ‘Booster Budget’ or Amazon Wildfires a ‘Climate Budget’ has climate action as one of its pillars, along with Prime Minister Gati Shakti's infrastructure master Ä There are roughly one million indigenous people living in the plan, inclusive development, and energy transformation. In the Amazon, as well as over three million different species of form of its Nationally Determined Contribution, India has plants and fauna. The rainforest provides around $8.2 billion established three goals on paper that it has submitted to the to Brazil's economy each year through items like as rubber UNFCCC. It include 1) reducing the emissions intensity of its and timber. economy, 2) increasing the non-fossil-based component of electric generation, 3) expanding the carbon sink through At the core of Brazil’s out-of-control fires in the Amazon is deforestation forest and tree cover. (Source:Dado Galdieri/Getty Images) u On March 15, 2022, the Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Ä Amazon is a crucial carbon storage that slows down the Climate Change announced the \"rejuvenation\" of 13 main global warming process. According to a study by Brazil's rivers, which might result in a forest cover increase of up to national space agency (Inpe), Amazonian deforestation is at 7417.36 square kilometres. The Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, its worst in 15 years, with a rise of 22% between 2020 and Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra in the Himalayan 2021, resulting in forest loss of 13235 square kilometres area, Luni in the inland drained category, and Narmada, (5110 square miles), the largest since 2006. Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Cauvery in the Deccan or Peninsular region would all be part of the project. The Annual rate in square kilometres 30,000 government hopes that by creating carbon sinks to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, these forests would enhance the 25,000 country's capacity to store carbon. According to the DPRs, the proposed tree planting for river rejuvenation will sequester 20,000 50.21 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent after ten years, and 74.76 million tonnes of CO2 e (any other greenhouse gas with 15,000 the same global warming potential as CO2) after twenty years. 10,000 u On February 28, 2022, the Working Group II (WG2) contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the 5,000 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released. Climate change is expected to drive 32-132 million 0 2011 2016 2021 people into extreme poverty over the next decade, according 2006 to the IPCC. Food security will be put at risk as a result of global warming, as well as it will increase the frequency of Annual figures August to July heat-related mortality, heart disease, and mental health issues. Amazon Deforestation highest since 2006 (Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59341770) u The consequences and subsequent restrictions to climate change adaptation will increase above 1.5 degrees Celsius Ä Forest fires in the Amazon have at times outstripped clear-cut beyond pre-industrial levels, according to the sixth deforestation in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Assessment Report, 2022. India states that, the Working Scientists are concerned that the number of forest fires and Group I report to AR6 issued in August 2021 stated the emissions they produce may rise in the future due to the unequivocally that developed nations must reduce their drying out of forests caused by climate change and more emissions fast in order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 (AR6, 2022). uUnder Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, India has taken significant steps to combat climate change, including the formation of the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, 'One Sun, One World, One Grid,' and Infrastructure for Resilient Island States, as well as raising the Issue - 7, April - 2022 Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter 7

deforestation. The Amazon might become a savannah as a u One of the major component under this project was Mangrove result of this positive feedback cycle. Plantation that capture and hold the carbon- a blue carbon sink. A successful mangrove plantation was carried out in 700 Ä Humid primary forest loss increased in Brazil's other biomes Ha coastal mudflats of Abdasa taluka which has benefitted as well in 2020, not just the Amazon. Though the Pantanal, the livelihood of fisherman community by increasing the fish the world's biggest tropical wetland, lost just a small portion of catch along with enrichment of biodiversity in mangrove its main forest, it lost 16 times more primary forest in 2020 ecosystem. Regular maintenance and gap filling activity is than the year before. undergoing and it shows positive results. Ä An estimated 17 million creatures, including reptiles, birds, u Recently, third annual meeting of stakeholders/ beneficiaries and primates, destroyed as a result of climate change-related was organized in March, 2022 at Naliya, Abdasa. Further, catastrophic events, according to one research. Even while Pagadiya fisherman community had been provided with burns play an important part in the diversity of ecosystems, fishing kit in order to uplift the livelihood status of the according to a research published in Scientific Reports, community. wildfires may be harmful to species. u One exposure visit has been organised for beneficiaries for GEER Foundation - Project providing them insight into market demand, market focus and Updates make them aware about latest technology. Further, 9 “Virdas” were also constructed upto March, 2022. GujaratStateCentreonClimateChange(GSCCC) Comic Strip uIn the ongoing project of GSCCC by GEER and IIT Gandhinagar, one of the main objectives of this project is Forests and Biodiversity. Under this objective, the results achieved so far shows that the annual maximum temperature change was highest in Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar exceeding 1.13 C̊ during 1951-2018. Further, MaxEnt model suggests highest suitability of Junagadh, Rajkot and Amreli districts for lion population. Plot showing a Gridded prediction of the suitability of Lion occurrence GUJARAT ECOLOGICAL based on Maximum entropy model EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (GEER) FOUNDATION NAFCC-GUJARAT Project Address: Indroda Nature Park, P.O. Sector-7, Gandhinagar-382007, u Under the ongoing NAFCC Gujarat Project, the Ecosystem & Community based Adaptation Interventions have changed Gujarat, INDIA things for good in the 32 villages of Khadir, Banni and Abdasa region. The work, which has been carried out since 2018, are Phone: (O)+91-79-23977300, 23977311 Fax: +91-79-23977313 now turning out to be prosperous and visually remarkably recovered regions. Email: [email protected] Website: www.geerfoundation.gujarat.gov.in Climate Action is the quarterly newsletter of Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation GEER Foundation is an autonomous body, set up in 1982 by the Forests & Environment Department, Government of Gujarat. The Foundation has been registered as a Society under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860, and as a Public Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950. DISCLAIMER The information used in this newsletter has been taken from various credible sources and does not necessarily represent the views of GEER FOUNDATION nor we make any claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, of adequacy of the contents of this newsletter. WRITE TO US: We value your views and suggestions. Please send your feedback on this issue. © Gujarat Ecological Educa on and Research (GEER) Founda on, Gandhinagar Climate Actions - Quarterly Newsletter Issue - 7, April - 2022 8