Correct Option
The correct option is C. Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project.
[as per provisional answerkey]Explanation
The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism, developed under the UNFCCC, aims to incentivize developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands. Plan Vivo is an international standard for community-based payment for ecosystem services (PES) projects.
- Statement A is Incorrect: While Uttarakhand has initiated REDD+ frameworks, it was not the first to receive Plan Vivo certification.
- Statement B is Incorrect: The ICFRE-ICIMOD project is a transboundary initiative focused on capacity building and pilot demonstrations in the North-Eastern Himalayas, but it does not hold the distinction of being the first Plan Vivo certified project in India.
- Statement C is Correct: The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project, located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, is India's first community-based REDD+ project. It was certified by the Plan Vivo Foundation in 2013. The project is managed by the Ka Synjuk Ki Hima Arliang Wah Umiam Sirdarship (a federation of traditional Khasi institutions) and focuses on restoring degraded forests and protecting existing forest cover through community participation.
- Statement D is Incorrect: The Sikkim Mamley Kamrang project is a pilot study area for various ecological assessments, but it is not the first Plan Vivo certified REDD+ project.
Key Takeaway: The Khasi Hills Community REDD+ project in Meghalaya is the first project in India to be certified under the Plan Vivo standard, emphasizing the role of traditional community institutions in forest conservation and carbon sequestration.