State inks MoU with Singapore firm for major afforestation push

The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore-based company Proclime here today, in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, to engage the community for afforestation under the Him Evergreen project. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Sood signed the MoU on behalf of the state government while Chief Executive Officer Kavin Kumar Kandsamy did it on behalf of the company.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said this afforestation and carbon credit project would play a vital role in strengthening climate resilience, improving farmer livelihoods and supporting India’s long-term net-zero goals. “It would benefit more than 50,000 farmers across the state by integrating tree plantation on farmlands and field bunds,” he said.

He directed the Forest Department to provide financial assistance and hand holdings to the farmers, encouraging them to plant saplings on their lands. “They would receive benefits of the carbon credit after five years and 30 per cent profit of the company would go to the farmers. This project will go a long way in increasing the green cover and providing large-scale employment opportunities and livelihoods to the farming community,” he said, adding that it would be implemented in three phases.

The CM said the project was expected to generate significant long-term climate benefits through carbon sequestration and deliver multiple co-benefits, including improved soil health and reduced erosion, enhanced on-farm biodiversity and additional income opportunities for participating farming communities.