The Tizu Valley Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Network (TVBCLN) in Zunheboto district has made a significant move by registering on a global carbon trading platform. This marks Nagaland’s first such initiative in carbon trading for forest conservation. However, while the registration is complete, the results are yet to be seen.
Ivan Zhimomi, the Founder, Team Leader, and CEO of TVBCLN, shared with MT that earlier this year, the network registered five Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) in Zunheboto on a pilot basis with the Plan Vivo platform. Despite the registration being finalized, Zhimomi emphasized that the project’s outcome is still uncertain.
He mentioned two well-known carbon trading platforms, Plan Vivo and Verra Gold Standard, noting that while registration is an important step, the presence of both an investor and a developer is crucial for successful carbon trading. For TVBCLN, the investment has come from Value Network Ventures (VNV) Advisory Private Limited, while The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is serving as the developer. Zhimomi added, “Our network is the co-proponent of TERI in the project.”
The project aims to prevent the conversion of forest land to non-forest areas and mitigate degradation through the establishment of Community Conserved Areas (CCAs) that will be protected by locals. It also focuses on restoring forests through improved shifting cultivation, reducing dependency on forest resources, and other sustainable practices.
According to Zhimomi, projects like this involves conserving the forest area for a minimum of 20 years and that community participation is most crucial. “Community participation is much needed. For this, we have been holding workshops and capacity building training,” he said.
The project, he said, focuses mainly on plantation. “The project is for habitat plantation. We have to plant trees for sequestering the carbon,” he said.
The project also aims to provide alternative livelihoods for local communities through sustainable practices, such as employment generation, asset creation, and enterprise development.
While incentivizing the community is a key component of the initiative, Zhimomi acknowledged that challenges remain. “The community is preserving the forest, so they should be incentivized, but this is where the challenge lies,” he said.
“As of now, the international price for 1 unit of Carbon Credit is about 6 USD and for that we have to register in those platforms but we are yet to find out how it goes,” he said.
He also pointed out the difficulties in measuring carbon sequestration and biomass estimation in their forests, as there are no standardized protocols or global guidelines for carbon trading. “We don’t know how much carbon our forests are absorbing yet,” Zhimomi explained. “The amount of carbon sequestration is still to be measured, and without standardized rules, this presents a major challenge,” he added, noting that the global leaders are yet to bring a framework for the carbon credit.
In addition to these technical challenges, TVBCLN faces a lack of a formal Community Conserved Area (CCA) policy in Nagaland. With land in Nagaland typically being privately or community-owned rather than government-controlled, Zhimomi stressed the need for a policy for CCAs.
“Hopefully the government will take this issue seriously,” he said. It may be noted that the Nagaland Community Conserved Area Forum (NCCAF) has also already urged the state government to come up with a separate policy for the CCAs without any further declaration of CRs in the state.
Amidst the challenges and uncertainties, Zhimomi has focused on promoting cultural ecotourism and transitioning shifting cultivation to agroforestry, given Nagaland’s geography and rich cultural heritage. However, he emphasized that shifting cultivation, or jhum, is deeply ingrained in local traditions and culture, and abandoning it could disrupt traditional practices and lead to the loss of indigenous seeds. He has been working to address these concerns alongside the broader project goals.
Explainer: What carbon trading is, and how it could fit into Tizu Valley conservation
To understand the potential impact of the Tizu Valley conservation project, it is important to explore the concept of carbon trading and how it could support this initiative.
What is carbon trading?
Carbon trading, or carbon credits trading, is a market-based system aimed at reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), which contribute to global warming. The system works by putting a price on carbon emissions, creating a financial incentive for companies, organizations, and even countries to reduce their emissions.
How carbon trading works
Carbon credits are permits that represent the right to emit a specific amount of CO2 – typically one metric ton. These credits can be bought and sold in the market. If a company or country exceeds its emission limit, it can buy carbon credits from others who have reduced or avoided more emissions than required.
For example, if a company is expected to cut emissions by 100 tons but only reduces 80 tons, it can purchase the remaining 20 tons from other entities that have surpassed their targets. This system helps ensure that overall emissions are reduced by offering flexibility and financial incentives for emission reductions.
The role of carbon credits in environmental conservation
Carbon credits are generated by projects that either reduce or remove CO2 from the atmosphere. These projects could include renewable energy installations, reforestation, forest conservation, and sustainable agriculture practices.
In the case of the Tizu Valley project, carbon credits could be generated through forest preservation or restoration. By protecting the local forests, CO2 emissions that would have been released through deforestation or degradation are avoided, leading to the generation of carbon credits. These credits could later be sold to companies or nations looking to offset their own emissions.
How the Tizu Valley project could fit into carbon trading
The Tizu Valley community has already registered its conservation efforts with platforms like Plan Vivo, which certifies carbon credits generated through community-driven conservation projects. While the project is still in the early stages, if it progresses successfully, it could generate carbon credits by protecting and restoring the forests in the region. These credits could then be sold to companies or countries seeking to offset their emissions.
If successful, this system could provide a sustainable financial model for the ongoing conservation of Tizu Valley’s forests. The carbon credits generated through forest conservation would create an economic incentive for the community, ensuring the long-term preservation of the region’s rich biodiversity and helping the global fight against climate change.