The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $225.5 million project aimed at enhancing forest landscape management and strengthening forest-based value chains across 400 villages in Nagaland and Tripura. The project, named the Enhancing Landscape and Ecosystem Management (ELEMENT) Project, will directly benefit over 700,000 people and seeks to conserve and restore 100,000 hectares of forest in the region.
Forests are integral to the rural economy of both states, covering almost 1.5 million hectares and providing livelihoods to a large tribal population. However, over the past decade, significant reductions in forest cover have raised concerns about the loss of biodiversity and the well-being of forest-dependent communities.
The ELEMENT Project will focus on improving the management of these forests and mitigating environmental degradation by targeting key outcomes such as reducing carbon emissions, enhancing soil conservation, and improving water availability. The project aims to avoid nearly 435,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.
“The Project will contribute to leveraging forests for private sector driven job creation in non-timber economic activities, enhancing the carbon sink capacity of the forest, and ultimately contributing to economic growth and social well-being in Tripura and Nagaland,” said Auguste Tano Kouamé, the World Bank’s Country Director for India.
In partnership with the private sector, the ELEMENT Project aims to develop value chains for forest products while supporting the creation of 60,000 jobs for youth and women. These jobs will be generated through entrepreneurship in forest-based industries and skills training in areas like hospitality and nature guiding.
A key feature of the project is its integrated, holistic approach to forest management, which extends beyond traditional forest areas to include grasslands, wetlands, and farmlands. This comprehensive approach will enhance the resilience of rural communities to climate change while improving their livelihoods.
“The project will help improve the climate resilience of forest-dependent communities and maximize the benefits they derive from the landscape,” said Pyush Dogra and Raj Ganguly, the Task Team Leaders for the project. “By promoting ecosystem-based value chains and sustainable practices, we aim to transform the region’s economy while preserving its natural resources.”
In addition to the financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the project will also benefit from a complementary $2.4 million grant from the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (PROGREEN).
The approval of this project follows the World Bank’s previous $43 million financing for similar initiatives in Meghalaya, marking a continued effort to support sustainable forest and landscape management in the northeastern region of India.
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