Cooperative Afforestation in Sirsa, Haryana
BACKGROUND
This CDM project targets an area affected by aeolian (wind blown) sand, and with degraded croplands spread across eight villages. The area comprises 369.87 ha belonging to 227 farmers; which is generally left to fallow. Large areas of land are without any vegetation due to frequent dust storms of various intensities. The dust storms toss up large amount of sand, dust and suspended particles into the air and pollute the ambient atmosphere.
GOALS & Approach
This small-scale CDM project takes place in the western belt of Haryana, boardering the state of Rajasthan at the north-eastern fringe of the Indian Thar Desert. The mission of the project is to restore trees in the degraded areas while helping communities to receive carbon credits from growing trees, mitigate global warming, improve the local soil and environmental conditions, and to increase income opportunities in the community.
Reported TAKEAWAYS
The project planted approxiamtely 369.87 ha of mixed forest. Both the Project Developer (Haryana Forest Department) and the local farmers (Project Participants) believe that the project promotes CDM activities in lands of low agricultural productivity in the state of Haryana and beyond. Environment Impact Study could show the exact extent to which theree is positive contribution and therefore the extent to which poverty alleviation, biodiversity conservation and prevention of soil erosion are achieved.
Reference:
“CDM: Small Scale Cooperative Afforestation CDM Pilot Project Activity on Private Lands Affected by Shifting Sand Dunes in Sirsa, Haryana.” n.d. Accessed January 18, 2020.
Affiliation:
- Forest Complex Sirsa
- Haryana CDM Tree Farmers Society