Environmental degradation is currently the most
critical area of concern not only in India but also globally and the pace of
degradation is increasing at a rapid rate. Urbanization, Mining, Infrastructure
growth etc. have resulted in deforestation which is adversely impacting the
climate and also leaving behind severe repercussions on Human life.
With India
becoming the fastest growing economies of the world development projects are
booming like anything and as we know tree cutting is a part of majority of the
projects. Although necessary laws pertaining to compensatory afforestation are
there but in an age where climate change is fast becoming a reality they may
not suffice. Also, India recently ratified the COP21 agreement as per which we
need to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2. Keeping
in mind the aforesaid, it’s important that we start looking at ways in which
the economic development can go hand in hand with environmental protection. Our
country’s stringent forest and environmental laws and consistent involvement of
the judiciary for enforcing the same has enabled it to retain its green cover
despite huge biotic pressure.
Institute of Wood
Science and Technology (IWST) under Indian Council of Forestry Research and
Education (ICFRE), Ministry of Environment and Forest, has embarked on an
ambitious project for exploring ways to retain our existing green cover. They
have worked closely with industrial partners like Volvo Trucks, to drive
solutions like tree transplantation, which aims to retain our existing Green
Cover by using scientific and industrial knowledge. Semi mature to mature trees
which are nearly midway their lifecycle have maximum potential of carbon
sequestration. Retaining such mature trees through the technique of tree
transplantation is good for mitigation of impacts of climate change.
“After more than
one year of successful operation of the transplantation projects, the Institute
organised the seminar “Green Cover Retention 2017” to bring together
researchers, scientists, academicians and industry professionals to understand
and debate on this critical issue and help create a way forward to form
“Policies and Practices” that will help our world to be a better place for
generations to come” said by Surendra Kumar, Director, IWST.
Some key
corporates like Volvo Group, Karamjeet Singh & Co Ltd, South Eastern
Coalfields Ltd, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Green
Morning Horticulture Pvt ltd are partnering with IWST and ICFRE to take a step
towards saving the environment.
The Volvo Group’s
mission is to drive prosperity through transport solutions, and sustainability
is the guiding principle that underpins our aspirations in this journey. This
also means that our products and services’ solutions are aligned in the
direction of holistic sustainability that enshrines environment care,
innovation, economic efficiency & viability, with societal inclusiveness.
Volvo Group is the world’s first automotive manufacturer to be approved by
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to participate in its Climate Savers program.
Under
the current agreement, covering the period between 2015 and 2020, we are
committed to a cumulative reduction of CO2 emissions from our products and production
by atleast 40 million tons, compared to 2013 levels. And we do this through a
focus on all steps – the manufacturing process & technology, product
technology, the product application, the transport concept and the host of
services associated with our solutions. We believe that tree transplantation
can help save millions of trees during highway construction and other building
activities and this would be an invaluable tool in society’s ambition to
preserve and increase the green cover of our country. I am glad to see the host
of stakeholders from various sections coming together at this seminar to
deliberate and create a policy recommendation to achieve this critical and
urgent need, said Kamal Bali, President & MD, Volvo Group in India.
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