Greening rural development in India

Poverty reduction and economic growth can be sustained only if natural resources are managed on a sustainable basis. Greening rural development can stimulate rural economies, create jobs, help maintain critical ecosystem services and strengthen climate resilience of the rural poor. In the context of this report, greening rural development refers to five broad green outcomes: improved natural resource conservation; increased efficiency of resource use; reduced negative environmental impacts; strengthened climate resilience of communities; and contribution to climate change mitigation. According to the report, these outcomes can be delivered by rural development schemes by a) investing in regenerating natural resources, b) mobilising and developing the capacities of community institutions to utilise natural resources in a sustainable manner and c) aggregating ‘small initiatives’ in several locations to improve natural capital on a macro-scale.