India, Feb. 25 -- Forests are widely regarded as the global carbon sinks, capturing almost 50 per cent of fossil-fuel emissions. Currently, forests sequester around 30 per cent of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. South Asia continues to be a carbon sink with India being the largest contributor, both as a source and a sink. Despite covering mere 2 per cent of the global forest cover, Indian forests contribute about 7 per cent to the global carbon sinks, as it lies in tropical and sub-tropical regions of higher carbon uptake.

Indian forests host four of the 36 biodiversity hotspots, and two of eight hottest biodiversity hotspots in the world. India is also the second largest contributor to the global greening, and amongst t...