India Plans Focus on Environment

[Coventina]

Source: Wall Street Journal

NEW DELHI -- Even as it resists firm caps on carbon emissions, India has established one of the world's largest forest-protection funds and plans to set up a regulatory body modeled on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to improve its dismal environmental track record.

The $2.5 billion fund will be earmarked for the regeneration and management of forests, which have been identified by researchers as an important means of reducing carbon emissions, said Jairam Ramesh, India's minister of state for environment and forests, on Thursday. An additional $1 billion in public funds will be allocated for "forestry-related activities," according to a new report from the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Forest cover accounts for more than 20% of India's land, and it neutralizes more than 11% of India's total greenhouse-gas emissions at 1994 levels -- equivalent to 100% of emissions from all energy in the residential and transport sectors, or 40% of total emissions from the agriculture sector, the report said.

India has been making a concerted effort in the area of forestry for 20 years, and is one of the few developing countries where the forest cover has increased over that period, according to Mr. Ramesh.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125018657071529801.html

[Shireling]

1. This is a breath of fresh air.

Forests are so peaceful. We need forests to help restore our sanity. There is too much chaos. O8)

[Vidar]

2. Good for India.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Such good, good news. Thanks. n/t