Centre Issues Model Rules To Ease Tree Felling On Farmland, Boost Agroforestry

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued new model rules for cutting trees grown on agricultural land. These model rules are designed to help farmers and tree-based businesses by simplifying the process of planting, cutting, and selling trees grown on farms. The aim is to promote agroforestry where farmers grow trees alongside crops and to increase domestic timber production. This will reduce the need to import wood, support local industries, and even help double farmers’ incomes.

According to the ministry, the rules will also make it easier to export wood-based products, and help the country meet the growing demand for timber using locally grown trees.

As per the new rules, farmers who grow trees on their land will now be able to register their plantations online using the upcoming National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal. They just need to share simple information like where their farm is, what trees they have planted, and when they were planted. They can also upload geo-tagged photos to track their plantation.

When the trees are ready to be cut, farmers can apply online for permission, providing details of the trees they want to harvest. Government-approved verification agencies will then visit the site, check the details, and submit reports. Based on this, tree cutting permits will be issued. All of this will be monitored by the Divisional Forest Officers, who will also keep an eye on the performance of these verification agencies.

The ministry has asked states and union territories to look at these model rules and consider adopting them. The goal is to remove unnecessary paperwork and delays so that farmers feel confident planting more trees on their land without worrying about complex rules later.

The state-level committees, already set up under the 2016 Wood-based Industries guidelines, will help implement these new rules. They’ll guide how to promote agroforestry, increase local timber production, and ensure that tree harvesting, and transportation is easy and fair, especially for valuable tree species.