MAINS Current Affairs includes India’s Forest Carbon Storage May Nearly Double by 2100 & India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership

Environment

1. India’s Forest Carbon Storage May Nearly Double by 2100

Context: A recent study published in Environmental Research: Climate highlights that India’s forests could store nearly twice as much carbon by 2100 under different climate change scenarios. 

Carbon storage by India’s forests

• India’s forests act as a significant carbon sink by absorbing carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere and storing it in biomass and soil.
• According to the Forest Survey of India, the total forest carbon stock increased from 6.94 billion tonnes in 2013 to 29 billion tonnes in 2023.
• The carbon stock includes carbon stored in above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, dead wood, litter, and soil organic carbon.

Key Findings of the Study

• The study projects that vegetation carbon biomass in India may increase significantlyby the end of the century under all emission pathways.
• The increase in forest carbon is primarily driven by higher precipitation and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide
• Spatial Patterns of Change: 
  • The highest relative increase in vegetation carbon is expected in arid and semi-arid regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and western Madhya Pradesh.
  • These regions may witness more than 60%increase in vegetation carbon under high-emission scenarios due to improved moisture conditions.
  • Regions such as the Trans-Himalayas, the Gangetic plains, and the Deccan Plateau are also projected to experience moderate increases.
  • Biodiversity-rich regions such as the Western Ghats and the Himalayas are expected to show relatively smaller increases due to ecological saturation and climatic constraints.

Significance of increased Carbon storage

• Forest carbon storage plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation by reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases.
• Creation of Carbon Sink: India has committed to creating a carbon sink of 5 to 4 billion tonnesof CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2035 under Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

What are the Concerns?

• The projected increase in carbon storage does not imply that climate change is beneficial for forests.
• Risks such as deforestation, land-use change, forest fires, pests, and extreme weather eventscan reverse gains.
• Climate change may lead to ecosystem instability and sudden carbon release.

Steps Taken by India to Enhance Forest Carbon Storage

• The Green India Missionfocuses on afforestation, reforestation, and restoration of degraded forest landscapes.
• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (CAMPA)ensures that forest land diverted for non-forest use is compensated by afforestation activities elsewhere.
• India promotes agroforestry through the National Agroforestry Policy, encouraging farmers to integrate trees with crops and livestock systems.
• India is a signatory to the Bonn Challenge, committing to restore 26 million hectaresof degraded land by
• Urban forestry initiatives, including the Nagar Van Yojana, aim to create green spaces in cities, contributing to carbon sequestration and improved air quality.
• India participates in global initiatives such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) to enhance carbon sequestration and access climate finance.

Way Ahead

• There is a need to strengthen protection of existing dense forests,as mature forests store significantly more carbon and are more resilient than newly planted forests.
• Afforestation programmes must prioritise native and diverse species, avoiding monoculture plantations that provide limited ecological and carbon benefits.
• Forest management strategies must beregion-specific and climate-informed, especially for vulnerable zones such as semi-arid regions, Himalayan ecosystems, and coastal forests.

International Relations

2. India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership

Context: Recently, India and South Korea have taken a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations by deciding to resume negotiations for upgrading the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Key Outcomes of the Bilateral Meeting

• Strategic Vision: Adoption of a Joint Strategic Visionfor deepening the Special Strategic Partnership. Focus areas include:
  • Chips to Ships(semiconductors to shipbuilding)
  • Talent to Technology
  • Environment to Energy
• Key Agreements Signed: Digital Cooperation (India-Korea Digital Bridge)that include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Semiconductors, and Information Technology.
  • MoUs in key sectorslike shipbuilding, sustainability, steel, ports. Cooperation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Sports and Culture.
• Economic Relations and CEPA: CEPA was signed in 2010, which boosted bilateral trade.
  • Current Trade Structure: Imports from South Korea is about $21 billion; and exports to South Korea is about $5.8 billion. It indicates a trade imbalance in Korea’s favour.
  • Trade growth from $14.2 billion (2010) to $26.89 billion (2024–25)(about 90% increase).
• CEPA Upgradation: It aims to increase trade to $50 billion by 2030; and improve market access and investment conditions.
  • New institutional mechanisms include India-Korea Financial Forum, Industrial Cooperation Committee, and Economic Security Dialogue.

Strategic and Geopolitical Dimensions

• Indo-Pacific Cooperation: South Korea joins International Solar Alliance (ISA); and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
  • It shared commitment to peaceful, inclusive Indo-Pacific, maritime security and cooperation.
• Global Governance: Both countries emphasize reform of global institutions; and cooperation on global crises (Middle East, Europe).
• Energy and Supply Chains: Focus on stability of energy supplies, resilient supply chains for critical commodities.

Maritime and Industrial Cooperation

• Shipbuilding and Logistics: Strategic sector collaboration in Korean technological expertise and Indian policy support.
  • Objectives include to establish shipbuilding facilities in India, increase ship production incentives, and expand maritime logistics cooperation.
• Industrial Ecosystem: Proposal for Korean Industrial Township in India, and encouragement for Korean SMEs to invest in India

Cultural and People-to-People Ties

• Cultural Exchange: Establishment of Mumbai Korea Centrefor K-pop performance hub, and cultural collaboration platform.
• Soft Power Diplomacy: Rising popularity of K-pop and K-dramas in India, and Indian cinema in Korea.

Conclusion: India–South Korea relations are entering a new phase of strategic depth, combining economic, technological, and geopolitical cooperation.

• The proposed CEPA upgrade, digital partnerships, and maritime collaboration indicate a shift toward a comprehensive, future-oriented partnership, aligned with evolving global and regional dynamics.

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