Guwahati, Dec. 15: After Kerala's Wayanad, Assam's Majuli has kick-started the process to become carbon-neutral.
To be considered carbon-neutral, an individual or an organisation must reduce its carbon footprint to zero.
The Assam department of environment and forests launched the Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development (SACReD) to make Majuli carbon-neutral by 2020 through a meeting held in the deputy commissioner's office yesterday.
The Kerala government had launched an initiative on June 5 to develop Wayanad as the first carbon-neutral district.
Official sources said mitigation through forest activities and biodiversity conservation will be the starting points for the carbon-neutral agenda followed by other interventions over the next three years.
A.K. Johari, additional principal chief conservator of forests (biodiversity and climate) and member secretary of Assam State Biodiversity Board, who attended the meeting, stated the need for Majuli to align all its development with ecological responsibility.
Discussions were held on the background of Low-Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) and steps involved in developing an effective LEDS in Majuli such as development of emission baseline and prioritising focal areas for intervention. Discussions were also held on afforestation and forest enhancement/bio-engineering to curb incessant erosion.
Deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha spoke of the importance of climate-based decision making and highlighted the need for low-emission development strategy for Majuli to ensure sustainable development.
"We are making a sincere attempt to implement the project as the ecosystem of Majuli is fragile. Hence, the need to conserve it," Johari said. Studies are being carried out and the plan is to complete it earlier than the target, he added.
The project will be designed and implemented in partnership with other departments for which a district-level committee under the chairmanship of Jha has been constituted. This will enable landscape planning for reducing emissions and improving forest health, improved productivity of other lands and enhanced benefits for communities.
Official sources said if the project is successful, it might be replicated in other districts.
The meeting was attended by the district heads of all departments, including agriculture, water resources, public works department, transportation, animal husbandry, building and housing, and representatives of the Mising Autonomous Council.
