The central government has introduced model rules to simplify the process of tree felling on agricultural land, aiming to boost agroforestry and improve the livelihoods of farmers. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) sent a letter to all state governments on June 19, outlining the "Model Rules for Felling of Trees in Agricultural Lands". The primary goal is to encourage farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems without encountering unnecessary procedural obstacles, thereby enhancing the ease of doing business in agroforestry.

These rules are designed to support the broader objective of doubling farmers' incomes, increasing tree cover outside traditional forests, mitigating climate change, reducing timber imports, and ensuring sustainable land use. Agroforestry also aligns with India's commitments under the Paris Agreement. A significant impediment to agroforestry has been the absence of clear and consistent regulations for tree felling on agricultural land, which impacts both the cultivation and marketing of agroforestry products.

Under the new model rules, the State Level Committee (SLC), initially established under the Wood-Based Industries (Establishment and Regulation) Guidelines of 2016, will also oversee these regulations. This committee will now include officials from the revenue and agriculture departments. The SLC will advise state governments on promoting agroforestry and increasing timber production on agricultural lands by simplifying the rules for felling and transporting trees, particularly those with commercial value. The committee will also be responsible for empaneling agencies to verify applications and monitor timber transit from agricultural lands.

A key component of the new system is the mandatory registration of plantation lands on the National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal. Farmers will be required to provide detailed information, including land ownership, location, tree species, planting dates, and geotagged images of each tree in KML file format.

The NTMS will generate data on tree girth, height, yield, and species to help automate the approval process. For felling more than 10 trees, farmers must apply online, which will trigger a field verification by an empanelled agency. The agency will prepare a report with detailed information on the land and timber, based on which a felling permit will be issued. For applications to fell up to 10 trees, farmers are only required to upload tree photos on the portal and inform the planned felling date. After felling, they must upload stump photos. A no-objection certificate will be automatically generated unless the department decides to send an official for verification.

These measures are expected to streamline the process, reduce red tape, and encourage more farmers to adopt agroforestry practices, contributing to both economic and environmental benefits.