Potential and economics of forestry options for carbon sequestration in India

Ravindranath, HN and Somashekhar, BS (1995) Potential and economics of forestry options for carbon sequestration in India. In: Biomass and Bioenergy, 8 (5). pp. 323-336.

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Abstract

There is a need to understand the carbon (C) sequestration potential of the forestry option and its financial implications for each country.In India the C emissions from deforestation are estimated to be nearly offset by C sequestration in forests under succession and tree plantations. India has nearly succeeded in stabilizing the area under forests and has adequate forest conservation strategies. Biomass demands for softwood, hardwood and firewood are estimated to double or treble by the year 2020. A set of forestry options were developed to meet the projected biomass needs, and keeping in mind the features of land categories available, three scenarios were developed: potential; demand-driven; and programme-driven scenarios. Adoption of the demand-driven scenario, targeted at meeting the projected biomass needs, is estimated to sequester 78 Mt of C annually after accounting for all emissions resulting from clearfelling and end use of biomass. The demand-driven scenario is estimated to offset 50% of national C emission at 1990 level. The cost per t of C sequestered for forestry options is lower than the energy options considered. The annual investment required for implementing the demand-driven scenario is estimated to be US$ 2.1 billion for six years and is shown to be feasible. Among forestry options, the ranking based on investment cost per t of C sequestered from least cost to highest cost is; natural regeneration-agro-forestry-enhanced natural regeneration (< US$ 2.5/t C)-timber-community-softwood forestry (US$ 3.3 to 7.3 per t of C).

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Biomass and Bioenergy
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Keywords:	Carbon sequestration;forestry;India;forestry option;biomass demand;carbon emission
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Astronomy and Astrophysics Programme
Date Deposited:	24 May 2011 05:35
Last Modified:	24 May 2011 05:35
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/37865

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