New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): In a significant move to boost agroforestry and streamline its regulation, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued the ‘Model Rules for Felling of Trees in Agricultural Lands’ to assist States and Union Territories in simplifying related procedures. The initiative is aimed at improving ease of doing business in tree-based farming and promoting sustainable timber production.
Agroforestry, which integrates trees into agricultural systems, plays a key role in enhancing rural livelihoods, improving soil quality, conserving biodiversity, increasing green cover, and boosting climate resilience. The Ministry stated that the new model rules will reduce procedural barriers and encourage farmers and landowners to adopt agroforestry more broadly.
The Model Rules provide a simplified regulatory framework for the registration of agroforestry plantations, procedures for tree harvesting and transit, and streamlined documentation via a digital interface.
A major component of the initiative is the introduction of the National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal, which is under development. Applicants will be required to register their plantations on this platform by submitting basic information including land ownership records, geospatial coordinates (via KML files), species planted, date of plantation, and periodic updates with geotagged photographs.
For those wishing to harvest trees, an online application must be submitted through the NTMS with details of the intended tree felling. The application process will include field inspections conducted by empanelled verifying agencies. Based on their reports, permits for tree felling will be issued specifically for agricultural lands.
Oversight will be provided by the Divisional Forest Officers, who will monitor the performance of the verifying agencies. Additionally, the State Level Committees, already functioning under the Wood-Based Industries (Establishment and Regulation) Guidelines, 2016, will be responsible for implementing the model rules and guiding States in promoting agroforestry practices.
These rules are expected to support domestic timber production by closing the current demand-supply gap, strengthen wood-based industries through local sourcing, boost exports by ensuring a reliable supply of timber, and incentivize farmers by reducing regulatory burdens.
The Ministry has urged States and Union Territories to review and adopt the model rules to encourage widespread adoption of agroforestry, allowing farmers to integrate trees into their cropping systems without excessive bureaucratic constraints. (ANI)
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