Chikkamagaluru: Seeking financial incentives for green conservation by Malnad coffee growers and farmers, the Karnataka State Western Ghats Conservation Task Force Committee has urged the state govt to set up a Karnataka Carbon Credit Corporation.Under the Indian Carbon Market, carbon credits will be sold. A coffee estate or farmland having trees older than five years and with 40% green density will be considered under a ‘one tree, one carbon credit’ model.“We have submitted a detailed project report to the state govt for establishing the corporation,” said task force committee chairperson Mohammed Tabrez Alam Shariff.The major share of revenue from carbon credit sales will go directly to local farmers and growers, while the remaining share will go to govt and be used for infrastructure and road development. Special ‘Green Bonds’ are also planned for development of the Western Ghats, he added.Shariff also expressed concern over the Centre issuing notifications declaring the Western Ghats an ecologically sensitive area (ESA) solely based on satellite imagery, saying a final decision should be taken only after a ground survey reflecting local realities.The task force has proposed a separate ‘Western Ghats Policy’ to balance conservation and livelihoods.“After six states rejected the Gadgil report in 2011, 37% of the area was identified as sensitive based on the Kasturirangan report. But the survey done 15 years ago through satellite imagery has serious flaws. Villages, farmlands and plantations appeared as green cover and were included in ESA,” he said.Even though the Centre has issued the seventh draft notification, it has not taken local opinion, which has created fear among Malnad people about losing land and facing eviction, he said.The survey should be done transparently using modern ‘Cadastral Mapping’ and ‘LiDAR’ technology involving gram panchayats and local people.“Merely banning is not the solution for conservation. A special fund should be earmarked for health of rivers originating in Western Ghats like Krishna, Kaveri, Tunga, Bhadra and to prevent landslides. Instead of just banning, we have recommended a clear state-level policy to balance conservation and infrastructure,” he said.Shariff assured the public there was no need to panic. A special discussion on the Western Ghats will be held in the Belagavi session. After that, he will tour all Western Ghats districts, hear local grievances and raise them at the govt level.GFXCarbon credits for coffee growersWho qualifies?Coffee estates/farmlands with trees older than 5 yearsMinimum 40% green densityProposed model 1 tree = 1 carbon creditHow it worksCredits sold through Indian Carbon MarketMajor share of revenue to farmers and growersRemaining share to govt for roads and infrastructureAlso proposedKarnataka Carbon Credit CorporationGreen Bonds for Western Ghats developmentTask force demand: Fresh ESA survey using ground verification, Cadastral Mapping and LiDAR instead of relying solely on satellite imagery.
