Meenangadi on track for carbon-neutral tag

In recent times, global warming and climate change issues have become a non-negotiable reality. Rising global temperature, prolonged dry spells, unpredictable rain patterns and extreme climates have been wreaking havoc around us and posing a threat to our everyday living. Despite warnings of the scientific community that global warming will cause imbalances in the environment leading to destruction of species and habitats, many a country is yet to adopt any serious step to addressing the issue.

That is why Meenangadi Grama Panchayat in Kerala’s Wayanad district is different.

On June 5, 2016, the panchayat launched its carbon-neutral initiative. It first assessed carbon emission from domestic consumption of electricity and fuel in the 9,000 homes in the panchayat, and also from vehicles.

This was followed by an assessment of carbon emission from trees, which was completed in the last week of May. They were supported by the faculty and students of the Academy of Climate Change Education and Research (ACCER). Next, the team began measuring the carbon content of the soil.

Thomas Isaac, Finance Minister, Government of Kerala inaugurated the project. He announced, on behalf of the panchayat, that in a span of five years, by adopting multiple strategies and with the active participation of the people, Meenangadi would become the first Carbon Neutral panchayat in the country.

The way ahead

The panchayat hopes to reduce emission of Green House Gases through creating awareness, promoting environment friendly agricultural practices, increasing the vegetation cover, promoting the use of renewable energy, scientific waste management, reducing the use of plastics, and adopting integrated natural resource management, says Beena Vijayan, president of the panchayat.

The project is being implemented with the support of environmental advocacy group Thanal, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation’s Community Agrobiodiversity Centre, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Kudumbasree, ACCER, under Kerala Agricultural University, and the Zoology department of Kannur University.

Under this project planting trees is a major activity. They have planted 100,000 seedlings of various species of trees in barren lands, public places and private land inside the panchayat with the support of MGNREGA workers. The seedlings would be protected by the workers and the local people.

“We are also planning to provide an incentive of Rs. 500 each to a farmer who plants a tree and conserves it for a period of three years,” said Vijayan. A survey and sensitisation programme was launched on May 27. Based on this survey it will be decided which areas need more trees. Already one lakh seedlings have been distributed to farmers.

A temple, with 35 acres of barren land around it, has been converted to a natural forest in two years as a part of the project, and more than 15,000 plants, including medicinal plants, have been planted and conserved there. At Athikkadavu and Panchami, areas within the panchayat, around 142 acres owned by tribesmen were cultivated with various plants including coffee and pepper. This also ensures a sustainable income for them, says Vijayan.

C. Assainar, vice president of the panchayat says, “With a carbon-neutral status, the panchayat will be able to brand and market crops such as coffee and pepper produced here as premium products.”

On June 5, the panchayat declared itself “Plastic Free” and paper bags will be distributed. They were supported in this venture by paper bag making units and Kudumbasree.