Proposed Project: Environmental Impact

TerraMatch Support

Updated October 27, 2023 15:32

The questions asked in this section of the full application allow us to understand the detail of your tree-growing project and its environmental impact. We compare the metrics outlined in this section with your historical work to see if the proposed project is attainable, but we also look at the proposed project's impact.

Projects will only be selected if they fall within our three target states: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, or Maharashtra.

In this article, we highlight each of the questions we ask in this section of the full application, why we ask them, address any common concerns around each question and (where relevant) provide you with resources/examples to help answer the question.

There are multiple questions that applicants already answered in the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage. You will not be required to answer these again but you are encouraged to update your responses based on feedback that you received on your EOI. All of the questions from the EOI will be written in green below, in case you wish to review the guidance again.

In this section, non-government organizations and enterprises answer the same questions.

If you have any further questions, you add them below as a comment or submit them here, and our support team will try to address them.

Q: What are the biophysical characteristics of the project area?*

Why we ask this question:
Understanding the biophysical characteristics of the project area is important for determining the feasibility and potential impact of proposed restoration activities. It can also help identify potential challenges and inform the design of appropriate restoration interventions.

What do we expect? We expect applicants to provide a detailed description of the biophysical characteristics of the project area, including information on climate, soils, vegetation, topography, hydrology, and biodiversity. This could include data on rainfall patterns, soil quality, vegetation cover, elevation, river networks, and wildlife populations. The response should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the environmental conditions and ecological processes in the project area and how they may influence the success of restoration efforts. Do not copy and paste this information from the Internet.

Q: What are the main causes of degradation in the project area and how do you seek to address them?*

Why we ask this question:
We want to know why the landscape was degraded and how those drivers of degradation have changed over time. This helps us understand the depth of your local knowledge of the landscape.

How do I describe my project's objectives? We expect applicants to provide a comprehensive assessment of the drivers of degradation in the project area. These may include overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion, mining activities, climate change, or other human-induced or natural factors.

The response should demonstrate a clear understanding of the causes of degradation and their relative importance, as well as any social, economic, or political factors that may be contributing to the problem. By understanding the root causes of degradation, restoration interventions can be better designed to address these drivers and achieve lasting positive impacts on the environment and local communities. Do not copy and paste this information from the Internet.

Q: How many hectares of land do you intend to restore in total?*

Why we ask this question:
We want to know the impact of your project in terms of the total number of hectares that you will restore. This will number will vary depending on the location and interventions planned, but it gives us an idea of the scope of the project.

How do we define “hectares restored”? Does that mean hectares that have trees planted/grown on them? Hectares under restoration is the total land area measured in hectares with active restoration intervention, which includes agroforestry, silvopasture, riparian restoration, direct seeding, mangrove restoration, assisted natural regeneration, and reforestation. The land area under restoration does not exclusively mean areas with active tree planting. Some interventions may not have any active planting of trees and focus completely on enabling natural regeneration through improving the growing conditions for trees to thrive on the site or removing chemicals from sustainable production. These land areas would also count as "hectares under restoration."

Note also that "hectares under restoration" has a different meaning from "hectares restored." Projects will be required to report progress on hectares under restoration. Though not part of any reporting requirement, we understand the final "hectares restored" through a combination indicators, data points from project plans, remote sensing data and field checks to understand on how many hectares the project's restoration goals and targets are met.

Q: How many trees do you intend to restore or naturally regenerate through in total?*

Why we ask this question:
We want to know the number of trees that you will "restore," either through planting or natural regeneration. We also need to understand how many trees are growing per hectare of the project.

How does TerraFund define a "tree restored"? A tree is defined as a woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to 5 meters or higher, bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground. TerraMatch counts "trees restored," not "planted." Only trees that survive to maturity after they are planted or naturally regenerated should be counted toward this total. Naturally regenerating trees must attain a verifiable age of over 1 year to be counted as "restored."

Q: Which tree species do you intend to grow through this project?*

Why we ask this question:
We want to know the species of trees you will plant as part of this project, as the type of tree restored has a critical impact on the sustainability and impact of the project. Native species are strongly encouraged.
We prefer that you list each species' scientific name, but we also accept common and local names.

Will you only fund native/indigenous tree species? Projects that grow non-native trees are eligible but will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In many landscapes, planting certain non-native trees can improve the livelihoods and sustainability of farming communities through practices like growing non-natives in mixed agroforestry and silvopasture systems. Fruit and fodder trees, many of which are not native to Indian landscapes, provide real benefits to local communities without harming the climate or biodiversity. In cases where non-native species are proposed, the extent of their use, the livelihood benefits, and the relationship of the project to the broader landscape will be carefully reviewed. Projects that grow invasive species will not be considered.

Q: How many geographically separate locations would your project / restore?*

Why we ask this question:
This question helps us to understand the scope of the project and to identify the number of different areas that will be targeted for restoration.

What are we looking for? The number of geographically separate locations that the project will restore will depend on the specific needs of each project and the target areas identified for restoration by your organization. Each project will be evaluated on its own merits, and the number of locations to be restored should be determined based on the biophysical characteristics of the project area, the extent of degradation, the resources available for restoration, your land tenure agreements and your community engagement strategy.

As a general rule, if planting locations are more than 500 meters apart, then they should be treated as separate "locations" in this tally.

Q: What would be the ecological benefits of your project?*

Why we ask this question:
Understanding this allows us to understand the specific ecological benefits that the proposed project will bring about.

What are ecological benefits? By restoring degraded land, Harit Bharat Fund aims to help projects improve the functionality of ecosystems to improve soil health, increase water retention and infiltration, and reduce erosion. This will in turn contribute to improved water quality and increased biodiversity, providing habitats for a range of flora and fauna.

Restoring the land can also contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, as healthy ecosystems are better able to sequester carbon and provide resilience against extreme weather events. Overall, the ecological benefits of funded projects should contribute to the long-term health and sustainability of the local environment.

Q: How would this funding improve local biodiversity?

Why we ask this question:
Restoration efforts may result in direct or indirect benefits to the local biodiversity. The purpose behind restoration interventions is not only to restore the functionality of degraded land but ensure the revival of overall biodiversity of that region. We ask this question to understand the potential impact and contribution of your organization in improving local biodiversity through its proposed initiatives.

What do we mean by improving biodiversity? By restoring degraded land, Harit Bharat Fund aims to help projects improve the functionality of ecosystems to improve soil health, increase water retention and infiltration, and reduce erosion. This will in turn contribute to improved water quality and increased biodiversity, providing habitats for a range of flora and fauna.

What do we expect? Please indicate the specific ways and interventions through which this proposed project will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in the landscape. Please describe in detail how this project improves the condition of the occurrence and abundance of local/indigenous flora and fauna. Wherever possible, include figures to illustrate your points.
If your proposed project has no direct impact on improving/conserving local biodiversity, answer with “No direct impact.” It is understood that some restoration projects may not directly improve biodiversity or may be difficult to assess.

Q: What would be the sources of tree seedlings/saplings for your project?*

Why we ask this question:
It's important to understand where the seedlings will come from, as their quality and origin can affect the success of the restoration efforts.

What are we looking for? We strongly encourage applicants to either 1) build their own nurseries by engaging local communities to raise healthy seedlings or 2) source seedlings from reputable and reliable nurseries or suppliers with a proven track record of producing healthy and viable seedlings. Ideally, the seedlings should be sourced from the same ecoregion or locality as the project site to ensure they are adapted to the local conditions.

Regardless of the source, we expect all seedlings to meet our standards for quality, genetic diversity, and appropriate species selection.

Q: How many tree nurseries would this project establish or expand?*

Why we ask this question:
We ask this question to understand the scope of the project's nursery operations and how they align with the project's goals of achieving ecological restoration and improving the livelihoods of local communities.

What do we expect? The number of tree nurseries the project would establish or expand depends on the project's size and the number of sites to be restored. Typically, we expect a project to establish or expand at least one tree nursery for every restoration site. However, the exact number of tree nurseries will be determined during the project planning phase, taking into consideration factors such as the availability of suitable land, water resources, and labor. Our team will work with applicants to determine the optimal number of nurseries for their project.

If a Harit Bharat Fund project is funded and builds its own nursery, the project developer will establish a "Nursery Profile" for each facility and report on the number and species of seedlings grown in that nursery every six months.

Q: What is the source of water that will be used for irrigation?*

Why we ask this question:
We want to understand how your project will source water for the maintenance of this restoration work and address water insecurity concerns throughout the course of the project. During the project review process, we assess the longevity of a project and its impact.

What do we expect? Please describe the source of water (surface water, ground water) and structures that you will use for irrigation over the lifetime of the project. Provide a clear explanation of your plan to provide water and irrigation over the entire course of this project. Ensure that your plan is well-detailed and sustainable.