Centre eases tree felling rules to increase agroforestry
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New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has announced several changes regarding the felling of trees on agricultural lands. This decision was taken to provide relief to farmers, enabling them to grow and harvest trees on their farmlands. It will help promote agroforestry and sustainable land use across the country.
Growing trees along with crops improves soil health, boosts farmers' income, conserves water, and increases biodiversity. It is beneficial in reducing pressure on forests and helps in timber production on farms.
The new rules have made the process of registering tree plantations easier for obtaining permission to fell trees. Farmers will have to register on the upcoming National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal. They will need to share land details, tree species, and geotagged photos. After that, authorised agencies will inspect the land, and Divisional Forest Officers will supervise the process to maintain transparency.
A State Level Committee is set to guide farmers on how to grow valuable tree species successfully on agricultural land. This initiative is expected to improve agroforestry in the country and boost farmers’ income.