Picture courtesy of Timbaktu Collective

By Dr.Leena Gupta, Senior Scientist, Society for Promotion of Wasteland Development, New Delhi

The Nallakonda Windpower project is having negative environmental and socio-economic impacts on the neighboring Kalpavalli area. Over the last months, we raised the issues with this project to the Indian Ministry of Environment & Forests (DNA), the Andhra Pradesh State Government, the Windenergy company, the UNFCCC and the CDM project auditors (DOE). The project is now under review at the UNFCCC and the forest and life of Kalpavalli is knocking the door of the Green Tribunal of India to claim their rights.

Due to great efforts lead by local organisations, the Kalpavalli area which was barren 30 years ago, became again lush green. Over the years, many organisations and national authorities supported these eco-restoration efforts. The participatory community forest became a showcase model for successful joint forest management, watershed development and the creation of sustainable forest based livelihoods. The area has also been recognized as biodiversity rich Community Conserved Area (CCA) in the CCA directory ofIndia by Neema Pathak Broome.

Efforts under the UNFCCC must not contradict CBD commitments or hinder local appropriate development

Last year a 50.4 MW wind farm was set up in the area, damaging the vegetation cover and watershed catchment areas as well as causing erosion of the hillsides. This in turn has led to disruption in local livelihoods. The project is now requesting registration for carbon credits under the CDM. But not only does this project have negative local impacts, it is also not additional as these projects are common practice in the area. What’s more, local communities have not been properly consulted. The project is currently under review by the UNFCCC and we urge the CDM Executive Board to reject this project on these grounds.

Picture courtesy of Timbaktu Collective

At the same time Kalpavalli CBO, Timbaktu Collactive and SPWD New Delhi have
launched a public litigation and the case was filed at the Green Tribunal of India. A public awareness-raising campaign about the
potential negative impacts of badly implemented renewable projects will complement our efforts.

This project shows once more that stronger safeguards and guidelines are needed to help protect local livelihoods and biodiversity.
Efforts under the UNFCCC must not contradict CBD commitments or hinder local appropriate development. You can read more about this in the next edition of Watch This!

Read more from Watch This! NGO Voices on Carbon Markets #5