Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)…

Question

Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?

1. A. Uttarakhand REDD+ project
2. B. ICFRE-ICIMOD Transboundary REDD+ project in North-Eastern Himalayas
3. C. Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project (Correct answer)
4. D. Sikkim Mamley Kamrang Community REDD+ project

Correct Answer

Option C — C

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Option C.

Key Points

• the Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project.
• The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project in Meghalaya is India's first Plan Vivo certified REDD+ project.
• It is a community-led initiative of the Federation of Khasi Hills — an association of indigenous village councils (hima) — working to restore and protect dense sacred groves and community forests around Mawphlang, and to slow deforestation driven by fuelwood extraction and charcoal production.
• Understanding the terms:
• REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, plus conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. It is a UNFCCC framework that pays developing countries for verified reductions in forest carbon emissions.
• Plan Vivo is a certification standard for community-based land-use and carbon projects, distinctive for its emphasis on smallholder and community participation and livelihood benefits.
• Why the other options are wrong: the Uttarakhand, ICFRE-ICIMOD transboundary (North-Eastern Himalayas) and Sikkim Mamley Kamrang projects are real or plausible REDD+ initiatives, but none was the first to obtain Plan Vivo certification in India.

Exam Tip

• link REDD+ to the UNFCCC, and remember India's Green India Mission and its NDC target of an additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent carbon sink by 2030.