Objectives of Directorate:
Director (International Cooperation) supervises the activities of External Project Division and Biodiversity and Climate Change Division. The mandates of the respective divisions are as follows:
External Projects Division
Mandate
Objectives of Directorate
1- Liaisoning with National and International agencies on collaborative forestry research and signing MoUs.
2- Identify area-wise experts in ICFRE and coordinating formulation and implementation of theme and thrust area based projects with prospective funding agencies
3- Conduct workshop, seminars and conferences for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) related issues.
4- Coordinate submission and approval of EAP to the perspective funding agencies.
5- Monitoring progress of EAPs as per the parameters/standards of the funding agencies.
6- Maintain data base of EAPs.
Process
1- Liaising with National and International agencies on collaborative forestry research.
2- Submission and execution of EAPs.
3- Conducting workshop, seminars and conferences related to EAPs.
4- Maintenance of data of EAPs, executed by ICFRE.
MoUs signed with organisations
International
National
Tentative Annual Status of Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) and MoUs (2020-2021)
Institutes
|
Ongoing
|
Submitted
|
Completed
|
Total No. of Projects
|
Total Budget
|
Total No. of Projects
|
Total Budget
|
Total No. of Projects
|
Total Budget
|
AFRI, Jodhpur
|
2
|
44.50
|
1
|
40.00
|
2
|
32.00
|
FRI, Dehradun
|
25
|
2276.79
|
10
|
845.27
|
9
|
187.33
|
HFRI, Shimla
|
7
|
405.25
|
3
|
264.19
|
4
|
256.05
|
IFB, Hyderabad
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
IFGTB, Coimbatore
|
31
|
1176.30
|
23
|
715.19
|
3
|
114.96
|
IFP, Ranchi
|
3
|
170.59
|
4
|
1119.57
|
2
|
54.35
|
IWST, Bengaluru
|
13
|
328.29
|
3
|
95.16
|
3
|
38.11
|
RFRI, Jorhat
|
22
|
614.85
|
11
|
210.61
|
13
|
189.03
|
TFRI, Jabalpur
|
24
|
399.31
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
41.17
|
ICFRE, Dehradun
|
3
|
4194.30
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
35
|
Total
|
130
|
9610.18
|
55
|
3289.99
|
40
|
948.01
|
ICFRE Signed MoUs with International and National Organizations
International Organisations
1- University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada (MoEF&CC, New Delhi signed with Umbrella MoU with UBC, Canada for its partner Institutes ICFRE, IGNFA, WII, FSI and DFE)
2- International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), Vienna
National Organizations
1- Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Anand (Gujarat)
2- Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata
3- Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU), Srinagar (Uttarakhand)
4- Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad
5- Indian Institute of Technology, (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad (Jharkhand)
6- National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee
7- National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), Noida
8- G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPNIHESD), Almora
9- Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
10-Green Initiatives Certification and Inspection Agency (GICIA), Noida
11-Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi
12- Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), Noida
13- Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), New Delhi
14- Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi
15- Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata
16- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi
MoUs in process
1- Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
2- Beijing Forestry University (BFU), Beijing ( Currently on hold )
3- Forestry and Environment Research, Development and Innovation Agency (FOERDIA), Indonesia
4- Brazilian Forest Services (BFS), Brazil
5- Kasetsart University (KU), Thailand
6- Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), China ( Currently on hold )
7- International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal
8- Swedish Forest Agency (SFA), Sweden
Proposed MoUs with International and National Organizations:
International Organisations
1- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
2- Iowa State University
3- Universiti Putra Malaysia
4- National University of Singapore
5- Purdue University, West Lafayette
6- Forest Research Institute Malaysia
7- USDA Forest Service (International Institute of Tropical Forestry)
8- Australian Tree Seed Centre (ATSC), CSIRO
9- University of Georgia, Georgia
10- Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
11- College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Philippines
12- Natural Resources Economic and Sustainable Development Institute, Indonesia
13- Directorate General of Climate Change Secretariat, MEF, Indonesia
National Organization:
1- Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
2- National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, (NIRD&PR), Hyderabad
3- National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad
4- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru
5- Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad.
To develop synergy in the field of forestry research, education and extension of ICFRE Institutes have signed MoU with the following State Forest Departments:
1- IWST, Bengaluru with Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh Forest Department
2- HFRI, Shimla with Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh Union Territory Forest Department
3- IFGTB, Coimbatore with Kerala Forest Department
4- FRI, Dehradun with Chandigarh Forest Department
5- TFRI, Jabalpur with Chhattisgarh Forest Department
6- IFP, Ranchi with Bihar Forest Department
Biodiversity and Climate Change Division:
Brief about the Biodiversity and Climate Change Division: Biodiversity and Climate Change (BCC) Division was created at ICFRE Hqs. on 16 December 2002, with the following objectives:
1- Conduct studies on biodiversity and climate change-related issues of national and international importance
2- Coordinate research programmes on biodiversity and climate change at national level
3- Advise Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India on national and international issues/ programme related to biodiversity and climate change
4- Provide policy inputs related to biodiversity and climate change, combating desertification and land degradation issues
5- Advise ICFRE institutes on various issues pertaining to biodiversity and climate change
6- Conduct capacity building programme of various stakeholders on biodiversity and climate change-related issues
7- Develop linkages with organisations / autonomous bodies on issues related to biodiversity and climate change
Research Projects Undertaken:
Biodiversity and Climate Change Division has undertaken the following research projects:
Projects Completed: Click on link to view detail
REDD+ Himalaya Project: The Transboundary REDD+ Himalaya project focused on capacity building, technology sharing and knowledge dissemination through South-South cooperation. Funded by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) with a regional mandate, the project was implemented in Bhutan, India, Myanmar and India. District Mamit of Mizoram was chosen as a pilot project area for the implementation of the project activities. Drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the state of Mizoram were identified, and appropriate strategies were developed for addressing the identified drivers. REDD+ Action Plans for Mizoram and Uttarakhand have been prepared through multi stakeholder's consultations process. These plans aim to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and sustainable management of forests in the states. The contribution of the project has been duly acknowledged in the National REDD+ Strategy 2018 of India. The project has created an enabling environment for the implementation of REDD+ actions in India. A 'REDD+ Working Group for North-Eastern states' was formed with its secretariat at Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat in Assam. Allometric equations were developed for the estimation of biomass and carbon stocks of common bamboo species of Mizoram.
1- Development of National REDD+ Strategy: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has assigned the task regarding 'Institutionalisation of technical aspects of REDD+ in India. National REDD+ Strategy 2018 has been published. It was released by the Hon'ble Minister, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on 20 August 2018. It has been uploaded on the web platform of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
2- Study-cum-survey to assess the Demand and Supply of Medicinal Plants in India: A comprehensive review and assessment of (a) consumption of botanical raw drugs by the domestic herbal industry and by rural households, (b) botanicals collected from the wild and those obtained from cultivation, (c) botanicals recorded from trade for commercial use in Indian Systems of Medicine, and (d) botanicals in foreign trade under the study has resulted in drawing up of a consolidated inventory of 1622 botanicals correlated to 1178 plant species. Nearly 53% of these species are subjected to destructive harvest to collect their underground parts, wood, bark or whole plants as herbal raw drugs. Total commercial demand of herbal raw drugs in the country for 2014-15 has been estimated at 5,12,000 MT its trade value works out to be around Rs. 7,000 crores (> one billion USD).
3- Policy and institutional reforms for mainstreaming and up-scaling sustainable land and ecosystem management in India ICFRE's SLEM project was designed to improve and upscale sustainable land and ecosystem management (SLEM) in India. Under this project, a robust implementation, monitoring and oversight framework was instituted called Technical Facilitation Organization (TFO). TFO collected information on knowledge systems and best practices that enable recommendations for policy strategy and approaches. A report on the baseline study at the national level was finalised, and a communication strategy for SLEM-CPP was developed. A monitoring and evaluation framework were prepared, which will serve as a tool to monitor the outcomes of the approaches, policies and procedures at the national, state and local level.
4- Enhancing capacity for alignment of a national action programme to the 10-year strategy of UNCCD and national reporting to UNCCD Secretariat The fifth and sixth national reporting to UNCCD Secretariat was done in 2012 and 2014. The alignment of the national action programme to 10-year strategy of UNCCD was also done in 2015.
5- India's First Biennial Update Report: Forestry Sector: Mitigation and Gaps & Constraints Final report of project activity on 'Forestry Sector – Mitigation and Gaps & Constraints' for the First Biennial Update Report has been submitted to NATCOM Project Management Cell of MoEF & CC, Government of India. A book titled 'Climate change mitigation and adaptation in the forestry sector in India' was published.
6- Assessment of soil carbon stocks and dynamics in forest soils of India for the period 1995 to 2007 This study on assessment of soil organic carbon stocks in forest soils of India for the period 1995 to 2007 comprises of two main objectives viz. assessment of soil organic carbon dynamics due to land-use changes from forest to non-forest and, vice versa in key forest types; and quantification of uncertainties in the estimates using guidelines suggested by IPCC in 2006. Soil organic carbon data were collected from 14 major forest types. Soil samples have also been collected from non-forest areas close to the forest for estimating the loss of soil organic carbon due to land conversion. The study shows that due to an increase in forest cover, soil in Indian forests acted as a net sink of 352.89 million tonnes of carbon.
7- Research needs and financial, technological and capacity needs and constraints to address climate change concerns vis-a-vis forests and forest products in India The study's findings highlighted an overview of the current status of knowledge, identification of gaps and constraints to undertake research activities in the field of climate change in India.
8- Measurement of forest carbon exchange using eddy covariance and CDM potential studies in India: Guidebook on 'CDM Afforestation and Reforestation Projects in India' was published.
9- Reassignment of Forest Types of India Findings of the project were published in the form of a book titled 'Forest Types of India: Revisited'. It reveals changes in the vegetation composition in many forest types described by Champion and Seth (1968). The work has also reclassified Champion and Seth's 16 major forest type groups into 10 major groups and 44 subgroups.
10- MoEF&CC-USEPA Project – FORCLIMIT-INDIA collaborative project on 'Climate change mitigation in the forest sector in India: Assessment at national level, selected state and case studies' Carbon stocks for baseline and mitigation scenario for two case studies i.e., community and farm forestry projects in Uttarakhand, were studied under the scheme. The findings show that carbon revenue is an essential driver for investors in community projects. The short-rotation timber species such as Eucalyptus, Poplar have high internal rates of return and high carbon benefit reversibility potential. However, the carbon reversibility risk is lower in long-rotated pine and mixed-species plantation on community lands.
11- EU India Small Projects Facility Programme on Beyond Kyoto: EU India CDM partnership: promoting stakeholder dialogue and analysis of barriers to forestry mitigation projects The main objective of this project was to study and analyse the barriers associated with the CDM A&R forestry mitigation projects in India. "Promoting stakeholders' dialogue" was achieved by holding two workshops under the project with the help of partner Institutions. The project has been successful in discussing the various issues related to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Sink Projects. Report on Barrier Analysis for CDM Afforestation & Reforestation Projects was prepared and presented in the workshop.
Ongoing Projects: Click on link to view detail
1- Ecosystem Services Improvement Project: The Government of India has received financing from the World Bank for the Ecosystem Services Improvement Project. ICFRE being one of the implementing partners of this project is implementing one of the components of Ecosystem Services Improvement Project, i.e., Scaling up Sustainable Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) in Selected Landscapes. The main objectives of this component are to prevent land degradation and desertification and increase above-ground forest carbon stock through a combination of investments to implement and scale-up tried-and-tested SLEM best practices, to increase national capacity for monitoring land degradation and track associated indicators, and to generate knowledge exchange on SLEM approaches.
2- Capacity Buildings of State Forest Departments for Developing State REDD+ Action Plans: The project's main objective is to build the capacity of the State Forest Departments for the preparation of the State REDD+ Action Plans. The capacity building programme also develops awareness on REDD+ related issues, key concepts, analysis of COP decisions on REDD+ and their relevance to India.
3- CAMPA funded scheme on Execution of Readiness Activities for Implementation of REDD+ in India: Followings are the objectives of this project: - Development of Safeguard Information System for REDD+ through stakeholder consultation processes - Development of REDD+ learning and knowledge sharing platform, web-based SIS module and networking of relevant stakeholders - Capacity building of the stakeholders on various aspects of REDD+ including safeguards at regional level
4- Mitigation Actions, Constraints, Gaps and related Financial, Technical and Capacity Needs to Address Climate Change Concerns in Forest Sector in India: The study is to provide information on mitigation actions and effects of climate change. The study is funded by NATCOM Project Management Cell of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Broad scope of the study includes methodologies, assumptions and other elements of reporting for Second Biennial Update Report, Third Biennial Update Report, Third National Communication and International Consultation and Analysis process: 1. National circumstance in forestry 2. Mitigation actions and their effects 3. Finance, technology and capacity building needs of the sector 4. Constraints and gaps and status of transfer of technologies in the sector 5. Domestic MRV arrangement in forestry Second and third Biennial Update Reports (BUR II and BUR III) on Mitigation Actions, Constraints, Gaps and related Financial, Technical and Capacity Needs to Address Climate Change Concerns in Forest Sector in India was prepared and submitted to the NATCOM Project Management Cell of MoEFCC. BUR II and III provide updated information on mitigation actions, including various afforestation/ reforestation programmes, market mechanism in forestry sector, and role of National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change in the forestry sector. It also highlights the India's submission of National Forest Reference Level to UNFCCC in compliance to decision related to REDD-plus and role of forestry sector in meeting NDC targets.
5- REDD-plus pilot project in the Van Panchayat (Village Community Forests) of Uttarakhand: Acknowledging the scope and opportunities for integrating the REDD plus initiative within the community controlled/managed forest (Van Panchayats) and JFM activities, ICFRE in collaboration with Uttarakhand Forest Department through CAMPA funding has initiated REDD-plus pilot project in selected Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand. For this purpose, methodologies, modalities and procedural framework is being worked out to ensure people's participation, empowerment and sharing of the benefits accruing from REDD plus incentives. Objectives of the project are given below: • Estimation of carbon status in different carbon pools in the selected study area • Estimation of enhancement in forest carbon stocks as a result of conservation efforts in Van Panchayat forest • Empowering forest dependent communities for forest carbon conservation and developing an MRV system for REDD plus actions • Capacity building of participating communities for developing a transparent MRV system at small project level • Developing a system of respecting and reporting of safeguards in accordance with the international agreements at UNFCCC • Preparation of Project Design Document and Project registration in Voluntary carbon market for generating carbon credits.
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Management
The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, while addressing the High-Level Segment of Fourteenth Conference of Parties (COP 14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) made an announcement to set up a Centre of Excellence at Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). The main role of the Centre would be to share knowledge and technology amongst developing countries Parties of UNCCD. The Centre will facilitate networking of national and international institutions working on sustainable land and ecosystem management. It will provide technical support for land degradation mapping, planning, monitoring and evaluation systems for interventions to combat land degradation. The Centre envisages south-south cooperation to enable India to share its experiences with other country Parties. Biodiversity and Climate Change Division is implementing the necessary tasks for setting up of Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management at ICFRE.
Organisation of Capacity Building Programmes
Since 2002, the BCC division has been organising MOEF&CC, DST and ICFRE sponsored capacity building programmes on biodiversity and climate change to various stakeholders, including IFS officers, scientists and technologists working in the government sector on the following topics: • Climate change and carbon sequestration • Climate Change Mitigation: Role of forestry and sink projects within the CDM framework • Climate change and relevance to forestry sector • Climate change and carbon mitigation • Conservation of biodiversity and sustainable livelihood in watershed management • Climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies • REDD+ in India: Issues and challenges • Measurement of forest carbon stocks • Development of State REDD+ Action Plans
Publications: Click on link to view detail
• REDD+ Readiness in Hindu Kush Himalaya
• Stocktaking of REDD+ in India
• Scoping Study for REDD+ in Kailash Sacred Landscape of India
• Identification of Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Mizoram
• Strategies for Addressing the Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the state of Mizoram
• Training Manual on REDD+ Measurement, Reporting and Verification
• Estimation of Biomass and Carbon Stock of Bamboo Species through Development of Allometric Equations
• Identification and Adoption of Appropriate Technology for REDD+ Implementation in Mizoram
• Forest Carbon Stocks of REDD+ Project Area in Mizoram: Baseline Report
• Manual on Species for Implementation of REDD+ Activities in Mizoram
• A Framework for Model Project Idea Note and Project Design Document: Mamit Community REDD+ Project (Mizoram, India)
• Mainstreaming of REDD+ Activities in Forest Management Plan
• Mizoram State REDD+ Action Plan
• Uttarakhand State REDD+ Action Plan
• Himachal Pradesh State REDD+ Action Plan
• Sikkim State REDD+ Action Plan
• Strategies for High Conservation Networks and Biodiversity Indicators for REDD+ in Mizoram
• REDD+ Working Groups for North-Eastern States & Identification of Organisations and Experts for REDD+
• Role and Responsibilities for Implementation of REDD+ at Centre and State Level
• Resource Manual: Capacity Building of State Forest Departments for Developing State REDD+ Action Plans
• Integration of REDD+ in the land use planning activities of north eastern states of India with reference to the Mizoram State
• Scoping and feasibility studies of bamboo plantation for implementation of REDD+ activities in the North Eastern States of India
• Resource Manual: Measurement of Forest Carbon Stocks for Capacity Building of State Forest Departments
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• Ecosystem Services Improvement Project: Baseline Report of Forest Carbon Stocks of Project Areas of Madhya Pradesh
• Ecosystem Services Improvement Project: Baseline Report of Forest Carbon Stocks of Project Areas of Chhattisgarh
• Ecosystem Services Improvement Project: Baseline Report of Socio-economic Status of Project Areas of Madhya Pradesh
• Ecosystem Services Improvement Project: Baseline Report of Baseline Report of Socio-economic Status of Project Areas of Chhattisgarh
• Forest Invasive Species
• Know and How for Afforestation and Reforestation Sinks Projects in CDM
• CDM Afforestation and Reforestation Projects in India: Analysis of Barriers
• Guidebook on Afforestation and Reforestation CDM Projects in India
• Soil Organic carbon Stocks in Forests of India (1995-2007)
• Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation in Forestry Sector in India
• Medicinal Plants in India: An Assessment of their Demand and Supply
• Forest Biodiversity of India
• Forest Types of India: Revisited
• Elucidation of Fifth National Report Submitted to UNCCD Secretariat
• Elucidation of Sixth National Report Submitted to UNCCD Secretariat
• SLEM Baseline Report-Issue, Challenges and prospects in sustainable land and ecosystem management
• Manual on Sustainable Land and Ecosystem Management – Some Best Practices from India
• Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators Framework for UNCCD- Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought
Proceedings Published: Click on link to view detail
• Proceedings of the Project Inception Workshop REDD-plus Himalayas: Developing and Using Experience in Implementing REDD-plus in the Himalayas
• Proceedings of the Workshop National REDD+ Strategy and Action Plan for India: Issues and Challenges
• Proceedings of the Workshop: Regional Stakeholder Consultation and Capacity Building Workshop on National REDD+ Strategy and Safeguards Information System
• Proceedings of National Workshop on Forestry Projects for Climate Change Mitigation in India: Stakeholders Dialogue and Capacity Building
• Proceedings of International Workshop on Developing Methodology for Assessment of Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks to Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests, and Increase in Forest Cover
• Proceedings of International Workshop on National Forest Inventory: The Experiences of Non-Annex I Countries
• Proceedings of the workshop on Innovations for Forest Carbon Finance in India
• Proceedings of the Project Inception Workshop on REDD-plus Himalayas: Developing and Using Experience in implementing REDD-plus in the Himalayas
• Proceedings of the Workshop on National REDD-plus Strategy and Action Plan for India: Issues and Challenges
• Proceedings of Workshop on High Altitude Medicinal Plants
People
|
Sh. Vinay Kumar, IFS
Director, International Cooperation
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
Phone: +91-135-2756497, 2224831(O)
E-mail: dir_pic[at]icfre[dot]org
|
Contact
Sh. Vinay Kumar, IFS
Director, International Cooperation
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
P.O. New Forest, Dehra Dun
(Uttarakhand) - INDIA
Pin Code: 248006
Phone: +91-135-2756497, 2224831 (O)
Fax : +91-135-2756497
E-mail: dir_pic[at]icfre[dot]org