Executive Summary

A study on ‘Analyzing Forest Carbon Accounts for Sustainable Policy Options with Special Reference to Livelihood Issues’ was launched in partnership with Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. The study connects the net forest carbon stock to the livelihood and socio-economic aspects of the forest dependent communities. The study has provided interventions and recommendations for sustainable management of forests keeping in mind the livelihood options of the forest dependent communities. IIFM had carried out the primary survey of sample plots from Chhindwara and East Sikkim. IIFM team has built up the complete carbon model with the help of IIASA researchers. To estimate the existing carbon stock at Chhindwara and East Sikkim, forest inventory data from FSI was obtained. The carbon estimation was done district wise.

After obtaining the gross stock of carbon the removals were estimated in terms of fuel-wood, fodder, bamboo, timber – furniture and fixtures. A detailed socio-economic survey collected the data on the above parameters which were converted to carbon equivalent and subtracted from the gross value. Hence the net stock was obtained. This analysis was done at house hold level. After completing the carbon accounting, IIFM had to link the value with the socio-economic condition. The identified variables were economic strata (annual income), education level and livelihood options practiced. With the above socio-economic parameters a spreadsheet based tool/model was developed, which allows choosing combination of stratas and tells us its carbon value. The major results are:

CHHINDWARA

1. Total available Carbon stock 16,50 million t
2. Fodder consumption range = 63-97% of total carbon consumption
3. Fuelwood consumption range = 2-36% of total carbon consumption
4. Bamboo consumption range = 0.006 - 0.03% of total carbon consumption.
5. In all the divisions livelihood opportunities are very limited, even though education level is high or moderate.
6. Access to LPG gas is limited. Alternate energy sources like agricultural waste, solar etc are not being used.
7. It has been observed that in educated households electricity usage is higher

EAST SIKKIM

1. Total available Carbon stock 5.71 million t
2. Fuel wood consumption increases with increase in the BPL population
3. LPG gas and fuel wood are the two major sources of energy which is substantiated by kerosene
4. Drastic improvement in forest density and quality was observed by the locals because of reduced fuelwood requirement, negligible fodder dependence on forests, high awareness level and strong governance

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