Forest Credits
President looking at my Wildlife photographs
When the President Abdul Kalam was at BR hills, and after seeing the forests and the wildlife photographs, he spoke about the concept of Carbon credits and how it was giving incentives for companies to reduce their carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The concept is pretty simple : A company that exceeds its limit of carbon emission, has to buy these extra credits from companies who have either reduced their emission or from people who have switched to using renewable energy. After that he mooted the idea of ‘Forest Credits’ in similar lines. He said it will be a great idea to save the remaining forests in India.
Few days ago after the event, folks from the presidents office called up Dr Sudarshan of VGKK to tell him that Abdul Kalam loved his visit to BR hills and it was the highlight of his tour. After going back, he gave a serious thought about forest credits and now he wants this to be taken up by VGKK. He wants a prototype of this to be implemented at BR hills and if things go smooth, he said it can be replicated across the country. He also said he will give us all the support he can as the president of India. Dr Sudarshan called me up to tell me this amazing news.
The president also nudged ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) folks and said they should share all the GIS data with folks at BR hills and for other conservation projects. Its very nice of him actually go back and use his position to extend all the help possible.
The President has a trip report of his BR hills trip on his lovely site. An hour visit and interaction by the president can yield a lot of results 🙂
You have been very fortunate to interact with this gentleman!
Sudershan is normally spelt as “Sudarshan”(Su means Good, and deeper meaning is, ‘One Who Leads/Inspires Others by Good Examples of His Own Deeds.’) and Dr. Sudarshan himself spells it that way. Though it is a proper noun, just like syntax-correct code, logical usage of language is also cool! isn’t it? 🙂
We in Karnataka are very fortunate to have this erudite scholar as our governor!
He supposedly prepares himself by procuring books from different libraries in B’lore about the place/institution he is visiting and whatever little he speaks, makes some sense.
Compare them to that idiot Chief Minister, who avoided attending this function due to a superstition that any CM who visits Chamarajanagar district loses his power!
president ho to aisa ..
Kudos to Kalyan
Gud work Kalyan. This initiative has to spread like fire across the world
Its nice to see that our President has such a nice report on the trip
Re: Kudos to Kalyan
Like a forest fire? 😉
Its just feels great to have such a wonderful person at BRHills. Congrats to you Kalyan on your interaction with *OUR PRESIDENT*. His trip report was also as good as the person himself.
Yes, I agree with fatmuttony. While I certainly hope that the President’s visit to BR Hills will do something good for it, he is also known for backing projects like the mega River Linkage project which would cause environmental disaster in India.
Its great to see the prez looking at ur photo dude! 🙂
And man, to actually be on such good terms with great peopel like Dr.Sudarshan- wow! 🙂
Coming to credits – Did he say anything about how excatly the forest credits would work? Hope whatever he has in mind is a good long term solution.
Carbon Credits appears to be a good Idea but it has invited (fair?)criticism eg – http://www.carbontradewatch.org/.
This is bcos while it sort of reduces global warming – it really does not push eerybody towards embracing solutions which are eco-friendly. Carbon Credits also do little in ensuring protection for local environments.
Sudershan
As much as my Kannada/Sanskrit knowledge goes,
1. “Su” is one of the 22 upasargaas (prefixes) and by nature, these upasargaas either enhance the meaning of a certain “root” or completely change the root’s meaning. A classic example of this can be seen when one considers ‘haara’ as the root and action of different of upasargaas on it (aahaara, vihaara, prahaara, and so on…). Thus, goes a rule in Sanskrit grammar … “upsargEna dhaatvartham balaat anyatra neeyatE” (by forces, prefix changes the meaning of the word it attaches to) — more like a tail shaking the dog!
“Su”, in 99/100 of cases (I cannot think of that 1/100 case), only enhances the meaning of the root (sulakShaNa, sulOchana, suchEtana, sukha, … being some examples) and often gives the impression of “state of well being” or “better”.
2. THERE IS NO WORD ‘DERSHAN’
Word ‘darshana’ (meaning ‘act of seeing’) originates from the root ‘drush’ and as such, the only conceivable cause for the word ‘dershan’ is typographical error and improper understanding/interpretation of grammar.
I am happy that a leader we are able to respect and look up to is taking such active interest; but I do share‘s concern about the “credit” idea…but as other alternatives don’t seem to be working at all, maybe this one might.
Images are really powerful. No amount of just description of that little Soliga beauty would have had this impact.
I like the fact that you are using your photography as a social tool. I hope you go from strength to strength.
Fantastic:-)
I had not visited his site, it is filled with material. Thanks for that too.
We sure would like to meet his ghostwriter.
> I like the fact that you are using your photography as a
> social tool. I hope you go from strength to strength
For all criticisms and concerns – one has to start somewhere and you have been a part of the beginning. Congratulations
Wow! Amazing ! Great going ! 🙂 Keep up the good work
Geat work
Its is gteat to see that the president has so much interest in creative art and he himslf participates in them.
Much as I found carbon credits exciting when I first heard about them, I don’t think they are helpful to really affect climate change. George Monbiot on his website http://www.monbiot.com writes a very good critique in an article called ‘selling indulgences’. It was published in the Gaurdian, highly recommended reading.
They might be ok for us to make some money for conservation purposes. (But if you look at some recent critiques of conservation and economics on nathist for instance, you find money is not really the problem).
To be honest, we’re a little behind the times here…in addressing any of these debates!
Natasha
🙂
hello
Speaking as a zoology /marine biology graduate, I like the fact that you highlight the beauty of organisms that are too often simply regarded as bugs.