REDD+ and Forest Conservation: India's Approach

TOPIC CLASSIFICATION

Subject: Environment & Ecology - Forest Conservation and Climate Change
Sub-topic: REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) - UNFCCC Framework, India's National REDD+ Strategy, Forest Reference Level, Safeguards
Mains GS Paper-III: Environment - climate change mitigation, forest conservation policies, international mechanisms.

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EXAMINER REASONING

REDD+ is a results-based payment mechanism for forest conservation under UNFCCC - important because it links climate change mitigation with forest protection. Prelims tests: what REDD+ stands for, the five activities (deforestation, degradation, conservation, sustainable management, enhancement), Warsaw Framework, and India's + activities. Mains demands: (a) the architecture of REDD+ - Phases (Readiness → Implementation → Results-based payments), (b) India's National REDD+ Strategy (2018), (c) Forest Reference Level (FRL) - India's submission to UNFCCC, (d) REDD+ vs. Green Credit Programme comparison, (e) safeguards - Cancun Safeguards, the REDD+ Safeguard Information System (SIS) , (f) the role of FRA in REDD+ implementation. The examiner's favourite framing is: "Can REDD+ simultaneously address climate mitigation and forest-dwellers' livelihoods?"

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Core Concept

What is REDD+?

REDD+ is a mechanism created by the UNFCCC to incentivise developing countries to reduce emissions from forests and enhance forest carbon stocks. The + goes beyond deforestation and...