---

VEDA Climate Change Solutions Ltd

Carbon Finance Business

The World Bank has mobilized a fund to demonstrate projects that sequester or conserve carbon in forest and agro-ecosystems. The Fund, a public/private initiative administered by the World Bank, aims to deliver cost-effective emission reductions, while promoting biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. The Fund is composed of two Tranches: Tranche One started operations in May 2004, has a total capital of $53.8 million; Tranche Two was operationalized in March 2007 and has a total capital of$ 38.1 million. Both Tranches are closed to new fund participation.

The BioCarbon Fund can consider purchasing carbon from a variety of land use and forestry projects; the portfolio includes Afforestation and Reforestation, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation and is exploring innovative approaches to agricultural carbon.

The BioCarbon Fund provides carbon finance for projects that sequester or conserve greenhouse gases in forests, agro- and other ecosystems. Through its focus on bio-carbon, or 'sinks', it delivers carbon finance to many developing countries that otherwise have few opportunities to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), or to countries with economies in transition through joint implementation (JI). The BioCarbon Fund tests and demonstrates how land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities can generate high-quality ERs with environmental and livelihood benefits that can be measured, monitored and certified, and stand the test of time.

The BioCarbon Fund is a public/private initiative established as a trust fund administered by the World Bank. The World Bank, as Trustee, oversees the BioCarbon Fund's management and appoints a Fund Manager and a Fund Management Unit. This unit is part of the World Bank's Carbon Finance Unit and draws on the World Bank's experience with carbon finance.

In 2003,  VEDA MACS Ltd conceptualized and developed a project on “Improving Rural Livelihoods through Carbon Sequestration by adopting environment friendly technology based agro-forestry practices”. It is one of the 22 pioneering projects selected by the BioCF for purchase of CERs from around the world.  The project serves  as a pilot project and would provide economic, social and environmental benefits both locally and globally. It demonstrates  best agro forestry practices with carbon credits for replication both within the country and also in other developing countries in South East Asia, Africa, South America etc.

http://wbcarbonfinance.org/Router.cfm?Page=BioCF&FID=9708&ItemID=9708&ft=Projects&ProjID=9636

Agricultural Finance Corporation

Promoted by Indian Banks' Association (IBA) in 1968, Agricultural Finance Corporation Limited (AFC) is one of the largest Consultancy Organisations in India. AFC provides international consultancy services  in Agribusiness Management, Livelihood Development and Poverty Alleviation, Water Resources, Watershed, Rural Credit, Agriculture, Micro Enterprises and Micro-Finance, Area Development, Capacity Building, Fishery, Forestry, Gender Development, Horticulture & Plantation , Wasteland Development, Non-farm sector, Project Implementation, Non-conventional Energy, Environment Impact Assessment/Environment Management Plans/Resettlement & Rehabilitation, CDM Services.

The activities of AFC cover the entire range of rural and agricultural sectors. These include minor irrigation, command area development, forestry and many more. AFC has distinction of formulating AFC extends Project Consultancy Services to Banks, Central/State Governments, NABARD, Cooperatives, Private Sector and International Funding Agencies. several complex and innovative projects involving multidisciplinary activities and their integration. AFC extends consultancy services for carrying out Studies and Surveys of various types and Formulation, Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation of Programmes / Projects in Agriculture, Rural Development , Social Sector and allied areas.

In its four decades of its existence, AFCL has been involved in more than 5000 consulting assignments in India and also in other countries. AFCL’s services has been utilised by various Ministries and Institutions of the Central and State Governments and Multi-lateral funding institutions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNDP/UNOPS, DFID, Islamic Bank.

VCCSL  partnered with AFC through a Memorandum of Understanding  to connect  rural poor with the global carbon markets and to build the capacity of  multiple stakeholders to benefit from global mechanisms such as UNFCCC.

http://www.afcindia.org.in/

JK Paper Mills Ltd

JK Paper Ltd., India's largest producer of branded papers is also a leading player in the Printing and Writing segment. It operates two paper plants in India, JK Paper Mills in Rayagada, Orissa, with a capacity of 125,000 tonnes per year and Central Pulp Mills, located at Songadh, Gujarat, with a manufacturing capacity of 55,000 tonnes per year. Both the manufacturing units of the Company are ISO 9001-2000 compliant. A plant to manufacture 60,000 tonnes per year of industrial packaging board in Gujarat is under implementation.

The plants currently operate at more than 120% capacity utilisation with an aggregate annual output of over 180,000 tonnes per year of Paper and Pulp, using contemporary technology. The Company has commissioned a 46,000 TPA state-of-art Coating Plant at Rayagada. This facility employs superior blade coating technology to produce international quality coated art paper and boards, being marketed in the brand name of JK Cote.

About 40% of Paper produced by the Company is sold under various brand names, JK Copier, JK Excel Bond, JK Bond, JK Savannah, JK Copier Plus and JK Easy Copier. Being the largest selling branded copier paper in India, JK Copier is the Company's flagship brand. The other major product is JK Maplitho, a superior uncoated Writing and Printing paper. The Company sells through a nationwide distribution network of approximately 100 distributors and 2500 dealers.

JK Paper enjoys highest Operating Margins and Highest Net Sales Realisation (NSR) in over 90% of the products it sells, amongst the paper mills across India. It is the only Company in the industry with such a large share of branded products in its portfolio. The Company passionately believes in Environment & Safety and has introducing cleaner and environment-friendly technologies. JK Paper Mill at Rayagada has been adjudged as the Greenest Paper Mill in India. Both the units of the Company are ISO 14001 certified for their eco-friendly operations.

The Company's plantations, driven by in-house research programme, have covered more than 45,000 hectares of land over the years. By providing farmers high quality plant species through the Company's plantation research centre, it is helping the farmers to improve their economic well being. Very large number of farmers in the states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra are benefitting from this programme. The plantation with its superior quality plants contribute towards a strong base for high quality raw materials

http://www.jkpaper.com

Society For Promotion of Integrated Coastal Area Management (SPICAM)

The  Society was established to promote  multi disciplinary  and      integrated management of coastal zone; The formation of the Society was motivated by the need for conservation of coastal zone and its resources (traditionally used for fisheries by the fishermen communities). The sudden developmental activities by way of constructions for industry, exploration for oil  and its ancillary small-scale industries, establishment of deep-water port           in a shallow bay which abuts a Mangrove wild life sanctuary prompted the founders to   form the  society to generate awareness  about the consequences of  unsustainable development. 

ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY:

The governing body is responsible to carry out the   following activities of the Society :

• The Society undertakes  field and research projects for  conservation and management of coastal resources with particular reference to mangroves  and fisheries.
• The Society organizes seminars/ Workshops / Symposia and promotes  participatory resource management.
• The Society publishes  Coastal Zone Newsletter for  dissemination of  knowledge on critical issues for the benefit of multiple stakeholders.
• Undertakes consultancies, studies and  Environment Impact Assessments for developmental projects
• The Society  is involved in training of village level workers  to undertake works aiming at eco-friendly integraded  management of coastal areas.

VEDA MACS

Vanitha Empowerment, Development and Advancement Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Limited(VEDA MACS) is a non-governmental organization registered  in 2003, to address issues encompassing gender empowerment, social equality and equity, rural livelihoods and environmental protection through sustainable development and planned transformation initiatives amongst the rural and tribal communities.

VEDAMACS, long believed that climate variability is a vital source of increasing socio-economic distress amongst the rural communities. To mitigate the impact of climate change  on rural livelihoods and also to  provide them economic benefits, it established  an exclusive innovative institutional mechanism i.e. Veda Climate Change Solutions Limited(VCCSL).

Sri Ram Foundation

Sri Ram Foundation-FATHER (Foundation for Development of  Agriculture, Technology, Human Resources, Education and Research):

The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in April, 2003 at  Kakinada to promote development of agriculture, technology, human resources,  education and research.

The   main objectives of the Trust are:

a. To help and work for social welfare, human upliftment, promotion of   social, economic and cultural awareness, protection of dignity and value for human life, basic human rights, fundamental freedom, equality, self-esteem, justice, advancement of peace, communal harmony, ecological and environmental protection, and other objects of general public utility, upholding the spirit of cooperation, unity and integrity, representing the views, concerns, problems of disadvantaged communities to appropriate authorities to overcome their disadvantage and help them to integrate into the national mainstream.

b. To promote, establish, maintain or help institutions, associations, welfare  organisations, societies, trusts, voluntary groups and individuals, social workers, and  allied activities.

c. To help develop greenery in the fallow lands, barren lands, village panchayat & poromboke lands, tank fore shores, coastal stretches through afforestation and re-forestation and by raising vegetation cover comprising of fuel-wood, fodder, small timber, fruits, vegetables & medicinal plants.

d. To undertake leasing of lands for development and demonstration of best practices.

e.To conserve  local health traditions, in-situ and ex-situ conservation of flora  and fauna with special emphasis on  medicinal plants. 

f. To promote  environmental awareness through education.

g. To strive for prevention and control of AIDS,  sensitizing rural people about female infanticide and promote rural sanitation,.

h. To work towards empowerment of women for their rights and privileges and   betterment of their lives.

i. To promote Self Help Groups and micro-financing facilities for enabling them to undertake self employment.

j. To promote primary, secondary and senior secondary, technical  and vocational  education.

k. To impart education, training and conduct research in areas of developmental studies, material and spiritual.  To promote universal brotherhood among people through meetings, seminars and joint programs in collaboration with other like minded organisations.