Maharashtra mulls "tree credits" to increase forest cover

Maharashtra Government is mulling putting in place a system to issue "tree credits" as an incentive to encourage people to plant more trees.
"Tree credits" would be issued on the lines of carbon credits, a financial instrument for reduction in carbon emissions, to increase forest cover in the State from the current 20 per cent to the mandated 33 per cent, said Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said.
The proposal is aimed at encouraging people and certain industries and infrastructure projects to plant trees and earn credits, which can be sold like carbon credits and money can be earned.
Speaking to reporters at Mantralaya on the eve of the BJP-led Government's ambitious programme of planting two crore trees on July 1, Mungantiwar said a committee is being set up to study the system of tree credits and make recommendations for its implementation.

"Drawing inspiration from the Government's flagship programme 'Jalayukta Shivar' (a drought-mitigation scheme), the Forest Department will soon come out with 'Vanayutka Shivar' (afforested village surroundings) which will entail setting up nurseries to provide tree saplings," he said.
Referring to felling of trees in cities like Mumbai, he said the Forest Department has no control over the Tree Authority, which tackles this issue, and functions under civic bodies.

Mungantiwar said a committee will be set up to look into amending existing laws and empower the Forest Department to regulate felling of trees in cities.
"The Government has decided to mark year 2017 as Mission Year for increasing forest cover in the state. The Mission will include creating a 'Green Army' of 10 lakh people that will protect trees and forests."

Giving details of the programme to plant two crore saplings all over the State on Friday, Mungantiwar said 1.50 crore of them will be planted by the Forest and other Government departments.
The rest 50 lakh trees will be planted by citizens, corporates, NGOs, schools, NCC, NSS students and others. Over 3 crore pits have been dug to plant these trees, he said.
The Forest Department has laid emphasis on ensuring survival of 80 per cent of the saplings that will be planted on July 1, the Minister maintained.