India and the US Launch “Trees Outside Forests in India”

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the launch of a new program, “Trees Outside Forests in India.”

• USAID’s forestry activities in India support important priorities of the US and Indian governments, contributing to the Forestry Pillar of the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue in support of the US-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership.
• Objective: The program will expand tree coverage outside of forest lands to enhance carbon sequestration, support local communities, and strengthen the climate resilience of agriculture, thereby supporting global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.
• Implementation: Implemented by a consortium led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF), the program will be undertaken in seven states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Significance: As one of the world’s largest economies and a global leader in science and innovation, India plays a critical role in helping solve the climate crisis.

• This new program builds on the enduring US-India partnership to tackle the climate crisis by enhancing carbon sequestration and bolstering resilience in the face of climate threats and extreme weather events.
• India’s achievements on these issues can provide models for the world.