Question 3858

What is the specific objective of the Vasundhara CSR Project initiated by Oil India Limited (OIL) in India?

Answer

Reforesting 100 hectares in Assam for carbon capture

Why?

The correct answer is Reforesting 100 hectares in Assam for carbon capture Key Points The Vasundhara CSR Project is a significant initiative by Oil India Limited (OIL) focusing on terrestrial carbon sequestration in India. The core activity of this project involves the reforestation of 100 hectares of land in the state of Assam. By planting trees, the project aims to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in biomass (trunks, branches, roots) and soil, effectively creating a carbon sink. This project is part of corporate efforts to align with India’s national target of achieving Net Zero Emissions by the year 2070. Additional Information Carbon sequestration is a critical component of climate mitigation, categorized into terrestrial, geological, and ocean sequestration. The reforestation approach used in the Vasundhara project is a form of terrestrial sequestration, where plants absorb CO2 during photosynthesis. Such initiatives support India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which include a goal to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through increased forest and tree cover by 2030. Important Points While the Harit Dhara supplement (Option 2) is an Indian initiative, it is developed by ICAR to reduce methane from cattle, not by OIL for reforestation. Geological sequestration (Option 3) involves storage in underground formations like saline aquifers but is distinct from the nature-based approach of the Vasundhara project. The PM-KUSUM scheme (Option 1) is related to solar energy for agriculture rather than corporate reforestation projects in Assam. The global early warning system (Option 5) is an initiative known as "Early Warnings for All," which is a different climate adaptation focus.