India has more than 70 m ha under forest cover with four global biodiversity hotspots, and is one of the 17 megadiverse countries. In India, approximately 200 million people are dependent on forests for their livelihood. India recognizes that conserving, expanding and improving the quality of our forests is a major national priority. This has enormous domestic and transnational mitigating benefits. Not only it is a cost-effective and efficient way to mitigate the effects of climatechange, but it also improves India’s water security, safeguards its rich biodiversity and provides livelihood security for millions of Indians.