Clean Development Mechanism and Forestry Sector: Challenge, Opportunities and Issues

India's contribution to the global emission is only 2-3%, with the per capita CO₂ emission of 1.1 tonnes per capita-compared to 20.1 tonnes per capita of USA. However, emissions are anticipated to be high, based on the thrust on developmental activities to meet the set economic growth by 2012. Keeping in view the global growth and demand the initiatives under UNFCCC are addressing the issues related to climate change. The Clean Developmental Mechanism (CDM) a provision within Kyoto Protocol and Marrakech Accords offer an excellent opportunity for Land-Use and Forestry (LUCF) sector within addressing the global negotiation on carbon sequestration. Keeping in view the large potential that Indian forestry has, this article departs from the last stage of discussion as expressed in the Marrakech Accords and gives an overview of the current discussions around the inclusion of biological carbon sink projects under the CDM of the Kyoto Protocol. Some suggestions and issues related to forest definitions, additionality, baseline and permanence (the criteria listed for CDM projects) would need to be revised for functionality of forestry sector CDM projects. As a result, the article gives recommendations on negotiations, which may be useful for climate negotiators for implementing forestry related CDM projects nationally.