MoU on afforestation and carbon credit project

The Himachal Pradesh forest department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Singapore based company, Proclime, here on Monday in the presence of chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to engage the community for afforestation under the ‘Him Evergreen’ project. Principal chief conservator of forests Sanjay Sood signed the MoU on behalf of the state govt, while chief executive officer Kavin Kumar Kandsamy signed on behalf of the company.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said this afforestation and carbon credit project would play a vital role in strengthening climate resilience, improving farmer livelihoods, and supporting India’s long-term net-zero goals. It would benefit more than 50,000 farmers across the state by integrating tree plantation on farmlands and field bunds.

He directed the forest department to provide financial assistance and support to the farmers, encouraging them to plant saplings on their lands. He said they would receive the benefits of the carbon credit after five years, and 30 per cent of the company’s profit would go to the farmers. This project would be implemented in three phases and would significantly increase the green cover in the state, besides providing large-scale employment opportunities and livelihoods to the farming community, he added.