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A New Tool That Can Drive India's Eco Restoration Initiatives: Diversity For Restoration (D4R)


ABSTRACT

An innovative framework called "Diversity for Restoration (D4R)" was created to address India's urgent problems with the degradation of the ecosystem and the loss of biodiversity. By combining biological diversity, community involvement, and cutting-edge technology, this tool redefines ecological restoration. To ensure the resurgence of crucial functions like carbon sequestration and habitat provision, D4R emphasizes the restoration of not only individual species but also the complex web of interactions within ecosystems.

 

Introduction

The recently developed initiative named “Diversity for Restoration (D4R)”, offers support for agroforestry and ecological revitalization initiatives. Originally devised by Biodiversity International, it was subsequently embraced by a group from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) to suit the Indian scenario. This tool's primary goal is to optimize restoration campaigns' outcomes while fostering sustainable growth at the same time.


Based on their ecological advantages and tolerance to regional pressures, the online tool assists stakeholders in identifying suitable tree species for restoration purposes.

How Does the D4R Tool Help with Sustainable Development?

Based on their ecological advantages, resilience to regional pressures, and ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, the tool assists stakeholders in identifying viable tree species for restoration aims. It also helps them discover sites and regions where they may find the seeds for the necessary species. Whether the tree species produces lumber, fruit, manure, or other commercial benefits is also disclosed by the tool to the user. Additionally, it reveals whether the tree can withstand physiological challenges such as excessive heat or cold, salt, or soil acidity tolerance, among others. Additionally, the program can locate windbreakers, which are trees that can serve as a barrier against strong winds.


The user can also find out whether a species is better at fixing nitrogen or is it effective at pollinating birds and bees. The tool enhances restoration program decision-making by offering details on tree species selection and their ecological advantages. This can increase the efficacy of restoration initiatives by benefiting all interested parties and fostering sustainable development.


How Will the D4R Tool Will Drive India's Eco-Restoration Initiatives?

The D4R tool is made to be utilized by many different stakeholders of India. It comprises academics, legislators, farmers, NGOs, and other groups dedicated to eco-system restoration and sustainable development. By enhancing decision-making and encouraging sustainable growth, the tool can promote India's eco-restoration projects:

Ø It can assist with the Bonn Challenge pledges made by India, which call for the restoration of 350 million hectares of deforested and degraded lands by 2030 and 150 million hectares by 2020.

Ø It can contribute to the realization of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), which calls for accelerating the restoration of damaged and destroyed ecosystems as a tried-and-true strategy to combat the climate problem and improve food security, water supply, and biodiversity.

Ø It can aid the National Mission for a Green India, which aims to improve ecosystem services, expand livelihoods on the forest and increase its cover and quality.

Ø It can help with the preservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity, both of which are crucial for societal progress and economic growth.


Legal Perspective of “Diversity For Restoration (D4R)”

The D4R tool can drive India's eco-restoration initiatives by supporting the implementation and enforcement of various laws and policies related to environmental protection and restoration:

  • It can assist stakeholders in adhering to the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, which prohibits the conversion of forest land to non-forest uses and requires compensatory afforestation in the event that such a conversion occurs.

  • The Biological Variety Act, 2002, which aims to preserve India's biological variety, ensure the sustainable use of its constituent parts, and promote the fair and equitable distribution of benefits resulting from the use of biological resources and knowledge.

  • The National Forest Policy, 1988, which sets forth the guiding principles and goals for managing India's forest resources. For ecological security, environmental stability, and socioeconomic growth, the policy places an emphasis on the protection, conservation, and development of forests. The tool can assist stakeholders in achieving policy objectives such as expanding the amount of forest cover, improving the quality of the forest, regenerating degraded forests, and incorporating local residents in forest management.

  • It may assist parties in contributing to the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which was introduced in 2008 to address climate change-related issues in India. The tool can assist stakeholders in promoting the National Mission for a Green India, which aims to improve ecosystem services, increase livelihoods reliant on the forest, and increase forest cover and quality.


Examples of Ecosystem Restoration Projects In India

  • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's flagship program, the National Afforestation Programme (NAP), focuses on rehabilitating damaged forests and afforestation around existing forests. Since 2002, the program, which is spread throughout 28 states and union territories, has recovered nearly 2.6 million hectares of forestland.

  • The National Mission for Clean Ganga, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the World-Wide Fund for Nature are collaborating on a project called The Ganga River Basin Ecosystem Restoration to bring back the ecological balance and biodiversity of the Ganga River and its tributaries. The project includes determining the hazards facing aquatic species, creating conservation action plans, and implementing those strategies.

  • The Bonn Challenge is an international initiative that aims to restore 150 million hectares of damaged and deforested landscapes by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. India signed up for the challenge in 2015 and made the commitment to restore 13 million hectares by 2020; this goal was then increased to 26 million hectares by 2030. Additionally, since 2011, India has restored 9.8 million hectares of land.


Conclusion

In India's efforts to restore the environment, Diversity for Restoration (D4R) marks a paradigm change. D4R provides a comprehensive and sustainable approach to ecological restoration by combining ecological diversity, community involvement, and cutting-edge technologies. D4R serves as a ray of hope for India as it works to stop ecological deterioration by providing a transformative tool to revive ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and guarantee a greener future for future generations.


References

 

*This article was authored By Priya Mishra and Neeyati Tomar, Students from Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Samiksha Biswakarma, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida.



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