A pioneering project has been launched in Meghalaya, India, focused on monetizing bamboo forest resources through carbon credits. The initiative, dubbed “Carbon Credits from Bamboo Forests,” is described as the country’s first to specifically target bamboo resources for this purpose. Announced during a workshop on September 11, 2025, the program is led by the Centre of Excellence for Natural Resource Management (NRM) & Sustainable Livelihoods, operating under the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA).

The project is designed to provide direct financial benefits to local communities by leveraging the carbon sequestration potential of bamboo forests. It is expected to establish a replicable model for other regions, integrating natural resource conservation with community-led climate strategies. In addition to carbon revenues, the initiative aims to offer new livelihood support and entrepreneurial opportunities centered on bamboo-based products for participating communities.

As part of its expanded objectives, the Centre of Excellence also announced a dedicated bamboo-based biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More carbon credit programme. This component of the project is intended to reinforce bamboo’s role in sustainability, improve agricultural productivity, and enhance climate resilience. The announcement comes at a time when there is growing interest across the industry in harnessing bamboo for various bio-based applications. For instance, a separate ₹7,200 crore project in Assam is set to inaugurate a bamboo-based biorefinery on September 14, 2025, which will process 5 lakh tonnes of bamboo annually to produce ethanol, with residual biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More being converted into biochar to generate 25 MW of green power.

The Meghalaya workshop was attended by key officials, including Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, IFS (Retd.), Co-Chairman & Director of the Centre of Excellence, and Shri Sachin Gavade, IFS, Executive Director of MBDA/MBMA, alongside community representatives from Khasi and Garo Hills. The focus on bamboo biochar aligns with broader national efforts to promote sustainable resource management and circular economies, highlighting the multifaceted value of bamboo beyond traditional uses.

SOURCE: Nation’s 1st initiative to focus on bamboo forest resources starts in state