The rules aim to simplify agroforestry processes and encourage farmers to integrate trees into farming without procedural hurdles.

Key Highlights

• State Level Committee (SLC): The existing SLC constituted under the ‘Wood-Based Industries (Establishment & Regulation) Guidelines, 2016’ will oversee these rules.
  • It will advise the state on promoting agroforestry & boosting timber production by easing tree felling and transit rules.
• Registration of Plantation Area: Applicants (owning agricultural lands) shall register in the National Timber Management System with land ownership details.
• Felling Permission: A Felling Permit is issued for agricultural lands with more than 10 trees, while a No Objection Certificate is issued for lands with 10 or fewer trees.

What is Agro-forestry?

• Definition: Agroforestry involves growing trees & agricultural crops together on the same land. 
• Types: Agrisilviculture (Crops + Trees); Silvopasture (Trees + Livestock); Agrosilvopastoral (trees + crops+ pasture/animals) etc. 
• Agroforestry in India: It covers 8.65% (28.42 million hectares) of India’s total geographical area.
  • The government defines agroforestry, for calculation purposes, as having over 10% tree cover on agricultural land.

Benefits

• Environment Benefits: It supports increasing tree cover outside forests & promotes sustainable land use, aligning with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
• Economic Benefits: It helps double farmers’ incomes by boosting productivity, improving soil health, and conserving water.
• Social Benefits: Improvement in rural living standards from sustained employment and higher incomes.