Not all forests are born equal - conservationists have long tried to hammer home this message in attempt to stop further destruction of the planet's oldest and most ecologically valuable trees.

The argument goes that even if destroyed forests are replaced, newly planted trees can't provide the same level of carbon storage and other natural services - at least not for many years.

As the latest talks on a new global nature pact sputter to an inconclusive close in Geneva, the under-appreciated benefits of ecosystems like tropical forests - such as their cooling power - are in the spotlight.

But across India, roads, hydroelectric projects and other new infrastructure have eaten up large swathes of forest land in the past five years - nearly 5% of it protected, such as in national parks.

To counter the impact of development, the government says it's committed to boosting overall forest cover through tree-planting in other areas.

But environmentalists told our correspondent Athar Parvaiz this "compensatory afforestation" is a poor substitute, even if it does eventually help cut CO2 emissions.

"We're going to pay a very heavy price for cutting down our forests," said Ravi Chopra, a scientist and activist in the city of Dehradun, where thousands of trees have been felled for road-widening projects.

As the Ukraine war roils global energy markets, with price hikes squeezing consumers worldwide, there's much discussion about how to boost national energy security by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The crucial question is whether the crisis will slow down or speed up the needed transition to clean power, especially in high-emitting emerging economies whose budgets are likely to be squeezed by inflationary pressures.

South Africa, for example, is set to receive billions of dollars from wealthy governments to kick its dirty coal habit. The push towards boosting renewable power - which could help ease cripping power outages - is already underway and due to expand.

But researchers say its model of awarding contracts to independent producers for solar and wind projects needs some work before it yields a full range of benefits - including decent jobs - for local communities.

"There was excitement when we saw the (solar) panels being built," said Rose Bailey, a social worker in De Aar, a town of about 24,000 inhabitants in Northern Cape province. "We thought it would bring employment and electricity to our homes - but we are still struggling, and we still have power cuts."

The coal-rich Indian state of Chhattisgarh, meanwhile, is betting on biogas made from locally plentiful cow manure to green its energy and increase electricity access and incomes at the same time.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel talked to our correspondent Anuradha Nagaraj about the plan to train local women to produce cooking fuel and power in community plants, which will also make it easier for the state's large indigenous population to light their homes and run businesses.

"We will literally generate (power) at their doorstep... Cash from cow dung is the goal," he said.

More from the ground up next week!

Megan

For Indian tree lovers, plantations are a poor substitute for lost forests
As India cuts old forests for development projects, it is planting large new plantations to meet its forest targets – but critics say the climate and nature are suffering

Cow power: Indian coal state seeks greener energy from dung
As Chhattisgarh looks for alternatives to fossil fuels, rural women's groups will be equipped to run biogas production, boosting electricity access and incomes, says its top minister

'It's our sun': Rural South Africans seek greater gains from clean energy
As South Africa plans to cut its reliance on coal, it is backing green power production at the community level - but locals are seeking more employment and financial benefits

Tropical forests turn down the planet's heat by 1C, scientists find
Forests should be valued not only for their role in curbing emissions and as a source of carbon credits but also for the direct benefits they offer to communities, researchers say

How can 'sponge cities' use nature to tackle climate-fuelled floods?
A new AI-based study compares cities' trees and lakes to how much concrete they have, to gauge their ability to respond to climate shocks

Africa's water security perilous - but data reveals surprises
An early assessment of the continent's water security finds Egypt ranked most secure - but climate change presenting threats across Africa

OPINION: Unsustainable agricultural supply chains are erasing our forests
Reshaping investment away from deforestation is tough – but these changes could help

OPINION: Out of Ukraine war, a plan for Africa's food security
A foreign conflict has exposed Africa’s dependence on imports and is galvanising action to boost local food production and tackle climate threats

OPINION: Why world's youth are using climate strike to call for reparations
Fridays For Future activists take to the streets today to demand climate reparations and justice. Reparations are not charity, but an obligation of the Global North

OPINION: Clean energy is Africa’s chance for climate resilient development
As the sunny continent looks for power, renewables are a clear winner