The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recently issued model rules designed to streamline the process of felling trees on agricultural land. These rules aim to promote agroforestry, boost the export of wood-based products, and support the ease of doing business for those involved in tree-based farming. The initiative is expected to encourage greater participation and create opportunities for farmers and other stakeholders to adopt agroforestry practices.

The "Model Rules for Felling of Trees in Agricultural Lands" seek to incentivize farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems without facing unnecessary procedural hurdles. This move aligns with the government's broader goals of doubling farmers' incomes, increasing tree cover outside traditional forests, mitigating climate change, reducing timber imports, and ensuring sustainable land use. It also supports India's climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

A key component of the new rules is the establishment of a streamlined regulatory framework. This includes simplified procedures for registering agroforestry lands and managing tree harvesting and transit. Applicants are required to register their plantations on the National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal, which is currently under development. The registration process involves submitting basic plantation data, such as land ownership, farm location, tree species, and planting period. Applicants can periodically update their plantation information and upload geotagged photos to ensure traceability.

For those wishing to harvest trees, the NTMS portal will also facilitate online applications, requiring specific details of the trees intended for felling. Verifying agencies will conduct site inspections, and their reports will inform the issuance of tree-felling permits for agricultural lands. Divisional Forest Officers will oversee the performance of these agencies through regular supervision and monitoring.

For applications involving the felling of up to 10 trees, applicants need to upload tree photos to the NTMS, which will then estimate tree size, yield, and species. Applicants must also specify the planned felling date and upload stump photos after felling. In such cases, a no-objection certificate for felling will be automatically issued through the portal.

For land with more than 10 trees, a more detailed online application through the NTMS is required, providing comprehensive information about the trees to be felled. This information, along with geotagged images of each tree, will be monitored by field functionaries from the forest, agriculture, and Panchayati Raj departments.

The State Level Committee (SLC), established under the Wood-Based Industries (Establishment and Regulation) Guidelines, 2016, will play a crucial role in implementing these model rules. The SLC will guide states and union territories on promoting agroforestry and enhancing timber production from farmlands by easing regulations related to tree harvesting and timber transportation, particularly for commercially valuable species. The committee will also empanel agencies for verifying applications for tree felling from agricultural lands. The SLC will now include officials from revenue and agriculture departments. It will advise the state government on how to promote agroforestry and increase timber production from agricultural lands by simplifying rules for felling and transit of trees, especially species with commercial value.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has urged states and Union territories to examine the model rules and consider their adoption. This is expected to enhance the ease of doing business in agroforestry and incentivize farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems without facing undue procedural hurdles. By promoting domestic timber production through agroforestry, the approach seeks to close the demand-supply gap, support wood-based industries with locally sourced raw materials, and boost exports. Currently, many farmers struggle to get fair market prices for timber because they lack verifiable proof that the wood is legally harvested and not linked to deforestation. The new mechanism aims to simplify the process of obtaining permission for tree felling on agricultural land and to transform agroforestry in India into a more organised and structured sector.