22 Dec 2009

As climate change and its effects begin to dawn upon the world, clean development technologies has started finding more takers, and the small hill state of Uttarakhand is one of them.

With lakhs of hectares carpeted with shed pine needles, the Uttarakhand forest department is planning to employ these as biomass to set up gasifier-based energy production plants and briquettes (coal derived from pine needles) using dried pine needles.

Over one lakh hectares of forest land would be opened up to shed pine needles collection as part of the plan which has been inspired from similar strategies adopted by other developing nations like Jamaica and Brazil. The state forest department has invited bids to help set up systems to reduce the state’s carbon emissions and thereby earn carbon credits.

“For us there are manifold benefits in this proposal. One, it will prevent forest fires as shed pine needles laid across forest floors is like tinder. Also pine needles otherwise just lie unused — negligible amounts are used for household purposes, so this should not inconvenience anyone,” A R Sinha, Chief Conservator of Forest (Environment), Uttarakhand, told The Indian Express. “Since companies will be asked to engage local population in pine needle collection, it will also help provide employment for many —mainly those inhabiting remote forest patches. Most importantly, it could help us provide non-conventional clean energy systems and subsequently reduce the state’s carbon footprint.”

One lakh hectares of forest land stretching through the middle of the hill state will be opened up for the project. “Forest sections like Dhanaulti near Almora, Chakrata, areas near Nainital among others will be part of this project,” Sinha added.

With the government already having done a pilot project of sorts in Badrinath, Pithoragarh district and Pipalkoti as well as where small-scale gasifier-based energy production set-ups are functioning, the state forest department is rather optimistic about the plan.

“While we will not tell companies to choose to do gasifier energy production systems or work on clean briquettes, our only condition will be to ensure only environment friendly projects are permitted. That apart, the rural employment opportunity also must be adhered to. Companies could also undertake to just supply these collected pine needles to environment friendly industries. The Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation could be involved as a link between the rural folk engaged in collecting the pine needles and the users,” the official added.

While the state forest department had invited Expressions of Interest for the same project last year as well, some objections raised by the Ministry of Environment and Forests had stalled it then. With all clearances in hand, Uttarakhand is now raring to go the clean development way.

News Source: Indian Express