Image Source: reNature

In a major step to boost agroforestry and streamline regulatory processes, the Centre has issued model rules for the felling of trees on agricultural land. The new guidelines are aimed at promoting tree-based farming systems by easing procedural barriers, enhancing traceability, and enabling farmers to benefit from the growing timber economy.

Communicated to all state governments via a letter from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) , the rules are intended to encourage farmers to integrate trees into their cropping systems without facing complex bureaucratic hurdles. Agroforestry, the ministry said, plays a key role in improving farm incomes, enhancing green cover outside forests, reducing timber imports, and supporting India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

A persistent challenge in agroforestry has been the lack of harmonised, transparent rules on tree felling, which often complicates both cultivation and market access for tree-based produce. The newly issued model rules aim to address this gap by establishing a streamlined digital process via the National Timber Management System (NTMS) portal.

Under the new system, farmers must register their plantation land on NTMS and upload details such as species-wise sapling count, planting dates, and seedling height. For plots with more than 10 trees, a formal application must be submitted with comprehensive details about the trees intended for felling. Verified by empanelled agencies through field visits, these reports will generate felling permits upon approval.

For smaller applications—up to 10 trees—the process is even simpler. Farmers can upload geotagged images of the trees and their planned felling date, after which stump photos must be uploaded post-harvest. The portal uses image recognition and AI to estimate tree girth, height, species, and timber volume. No-objection certificates are issued automatically unless a manual verification is triggered by the department.

The existing State Level Committee (SLC) under the 2016 Wood-Based Industries Guidelines will be repurposed to oversee implementation, with representation from revenue and agriculture departments. The SLC will also be responsible for monitoring verifying agencies and submitting quarterly performance reports.

Currently, tree felling on private land is governed by state-specific laws, with varying degrees of regulation depending on species and location. Some states allow farmers to fell certain tree species without permission, while others mandate approvals even on private holdings.

The new model guidelines aim to bring uniformity and digital transparency to the sector, turning agroforestry into a more structured and investment-ready ecosystem.

One of the critical benefits of the NTMS platform is its digital traceability, which assures buyers that timber has been legally sourced from non-forest lands. This is expected to significantly improve market access for farmers, particularly with institutional and international buyers that demand deforestation-free credentials.

The system aligns with the EU’s new Deforestation Regulation, which mandates that timber and derived products imported into the European Union post-2020 must be proven to originate from sustainable, non-deforested sources.

By simplifying compliance, enhancing transparency, and creating verifiable digital records, the new rules could pave the way for a thriving agroforestry economy in India—where planting a tree can finally be as profitable as sowing a crop.