GURUGRAM: Developers planting trees in the Matri Van area can now earn green credits, announced Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday. The Matri Van covers approximately 750 acres in the Aravali range. Initially launched as a “memory forest” for organizations and companies to plant saplings in honor of loved ones or under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the project has transitioned from a symbolic effort to one where planted saplings can yield credits—akin to carbon credits—that can be sold or used against future environmental obligations.
Yadav noted that plantations achieving 40% crown cover on degraded lands within five years would qualify for green credits, a measure applicable citywide.
The Green Credit Programme, introduced in October 2023, aims to assign market value to diverse eco-restoration activities, including water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and afforestation. Each initiative generates credits based on performance metrics such as tree survival rates and areas restored or conserved.
Officials will soon provide comprehensive guidelines for Matri Van-linked credits, detailing criteria for tree survival and verification processes. Haryana has been promoting forest patches throughout various districts to enhance green cover in the Aravalis and the Shivaliks.
However, the policy stirs concerns. Critics question whether a natural forest landscape like the Aravalis, already threatened by development and mining, should be a venue for private credit claims. Environmentalists warn that the policy could enable developers to compromise the region’s ecological integrity while creating “paper green” gains in credit ledgers.
They emphasize the need for ecological restoration over mere token plantations in forested areas. “While developers might see this as an opportunity, it could actually deepen their control over forest land under the pretext of compliance,” stated Col SS Oberoi (retd), an environmental advocate.
Critics argue that this initiative could lead to land capture, where private entities brand or control forest patches in the name of tree planting. “If industries and developers take over plantation activities in the Aravalis, what role remains for the forest department?” questioned environmentalist Vaishali Rana, warning that the government might prioritize compliance metrics over genuine ecological conservation.
Activists also point out that monoculture or rapidly growing plantations can be ecologically harmful in semi-arid regions like the Aravalis, which serve as a natural barrier against desertification and play a vital role in groundwater recharge. They contend that the concept of “green credits” is inappropriate for such ecologically sensitive areas.
“It’s not enough to plant trees; what matters is their survival beyond three to five years and the use of local species. In the Aravalis, the focus should be on protecting the area from disturbances so that natural regeneration occurs, which is crucial for the region’s growth,” advised ecologist and wildlife specialist Sunil Harsana.
