Conservation of natural resource with the application of carbon sequestration and carbon economy

Abstract

Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store as biomass carbon in different parts of it. Afforestation is a cost-effective approach to assimilate increased ambient CO2, which mitigate the predicted effects of global climate change. It is necessary to create public awareness of multiple benefits and environmental services provided by the forests and thereby encourage people's participation in the conservation, protection, and management of forests. Joint Forest Management (JFM) is an approach for sharing of products, responsibilities, control, and decision-making authority over forest land between Forest Departments and local user groups based on a formal agreement. Carbon credit can be generated through carbon sequestration by plantation like reforestation and afforestation project, and this credit can be distributed to the poor people in and around the forest area through different schemes such as employment-generation, education, child welfare, small-scale cottage industries, biogas generation, etc. A major part of the earned amount by the carbon credit can be distributed to the forest neighbors who are directly dependent on forest and forest produce for their livelihood. This will give them a fresh look to the forest protection from the forestdegradation or illegal felling. Green belt or afforestation is a statutory condition for any development activities where carbon sequestration has not been considered in the concept of green belt or afforestation. This could be recommended to include and select more effective carbon sequestrated plant species in the design of green belt or afforestation for effective mitigation of environmental pollution along with reducing of regional climatic temperature for the sustainable development of any project. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.