India’s First Carbon-Positive Settlement

Phayeng, a small village in Imphal West district of, Manipur has developed itself as India’s first carbon-positive settlement.

Phayeng is a scheduled caste village of the Chakpa community in Imphal West district and its conservation efforts are mainly linked to the belief that the forest is a sacred grove.

The transformation of the village from the dry and denuded village in the 1970s and 80s was funded under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).

A village is given the carbon-positive tag if it sequesters more carbon than it emits, slowing the accumulation of greenhouse gases and mitigating the effects of climate change

Measures taken:

The hunting is completely banned in the village except once a year when a deer is usually killed as sacrifice to the “forest gods”.

Restriction on outsiders’ entry into the forest without permission

Forest fires are carefully monitored

Only dry twigs are extracted for firewood

The entire 200 acres is patrolled by at least six people every day.

NAFCC:

The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) is a Central Sector Scheme which was set up in the year 2015-16.

The aim of NAFCC is to support concrete adaptation activities which mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

The activities under this scheme are implemented in a project mode. The projects related to adaptation in sectors such as agriculture, animal husbandry, water, forestry, tourism, etc. are eligible for funding under NAFCC.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the National Implementing Entity (NIE).