Preserving Forests & Biodiversity: Assam & France Sign Rs 500-crore Pact

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: France has praised the Assam Forest Department for creating artificial highlands inside the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) to provide shelter for wild animals during floods. France has also agreed to provide Rs 400 crore to conserve forests and biodiversity in Assam.

The gesture came during the latest visit of Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain to Kaziranga to meet the on-site members of the French Development Agency (AFD) as well as the officials of the Assam Environment and Forest department involved in the implementation of the ‘Assam Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation’ (APFBC).

State Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya told reporters on Monday that creation of 33 artificial highlands inside Kaziranga had saved lives of a large number of wild animals during the devastating floods this year. He also said that the highlands were built under the APFBC co-funded by the AFD and the State Government.

The AFD and the Assam Government, on Monday, signed a 50-million euro project agreement (total budget of 62.5 million euro) towards supporting the State government’s initiative to restore forest ecosystems and preserve their biodiversity.

The Monday’s agreement marked the launch of the second phase of the APFBC, which aims to reforest an additional 12,000 hectares of land, scale up efforts in biodiversity conservation and hone skills of the members of the 135 additional communities in different trades. This second phase of financing (Rs 400 crore from France) will continue for five years.

Earlier, between 2012 and 2019, the first phase of the APFBC was implemented with the support from the AFD to reforest 21,000 hectares of land, build 33 flood refuge sites for wildlife, and train over 6000 members of the local communities in alternative livelihoods so as to reduce their dependence on forests. The first phase of the APFBC had also built up the capacities of the Forest department, particularity its frontline staff, to reinforce its key missions.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, while speaking after signing of the 50-million euro project agreement at Janata Bhawan in Dispur on Monday, said his government has resolved to plant 100 million trees in the State; and a remarkable achievement has already been made in this regard.

France’s Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain said the project reinforces the commitment of India and France towards the restoration and preservation of the rich and diverse natural ecosystems in Assam.

“Biodiversity conservation will remain a priority for our 2020 bilateral agenda, and we look forward to learning lessons from this collaboration, which has already yielded tangible results which are being shared in India and international forums,” Lenain said.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force AM Singh told reporters that three components of the project are to be implemented over a period of five years. These three components comprise ‘Conservation of Ecosystems’, ‘Community Engagement’ and ‘Institutional Strengthening’.

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