The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) recently hosted a national consultation focused on public-private partnerships to advance forest conservation in India.
During the event, U.S. Consul General in Mumbai, Tom Vajda, emphasized the importance of forestry in climate change mitigation. He stated, "Because of the key role forestry plays in climate change mitigation, it is an important area of partnership within the broader bilateral relationship between the United States and India. The U.S. government is pleased to support this event today, which will pave the way for developing new models of collaboration between our governments and the private sector for forest conservation and management efforts here in India."
A significant highlight of the event was the introduction of the Corporate Forest Responsibility (CFR) Charter. This initiative aims to direct a portion of Corporate Social Responsibility resources towards forest conservation, thereby fostering a private sector-led effort to enhance forest and biodiversity preservation.
R. Mukundan, Vice President of BCCI, expressed support for USAID's initiative by stating, "BCCI is pleased to support USAID’s initiative to engage the private sector in this important dialogue. I believe a public-private partnership approach to forest conservation will benefit both the industry and government in equal measures."
The event also marked the opening of a new USAID regional office in Mumbai, co-located with the U.S. Consulate. For inquiries, USAID/India can be contacted at +91 22 2672-4625.