Read this interesting piece on how Indian entrepreneurs are combining profit with social benefits.
India is now home to a large share of carbon-offset projects. Yet forests remain poorly represented in these efforts.
This may not be the case for long, however, if one of India’s climate-focused entrepreneurs has his way, says this article. It takls at length about an interesting project from the entrepreneur M. Satyanarayanan, who is hoping to utilize a new and innovative business model to create a veritable forest of wealth.
Dr. Satya is the founder and Honorary Advisor of Veda Climate Change Solutions Limited (VCCSL), a company that is developing a network of tree planting operations to promote livelihood creation across six rural districts. These are areas with largely tribal populations, low literacy, minimal employment opportunities, and few natural resources.
Working in the states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, VCCSL has teamed up with Rayagada-based manufacturer JK Paper Mills on an innovative pilot project. The mill provides farmers with saplings at a subsidized rate and trains them to grow and maintain the trees, helping to regenerate the local landscape. Meanwhile, the trees capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change while generating a new income stream for residents.
Interesting stuff! More from here