The Government of Tamil Nadu on March 04, 3036, issued the Tamil Nadu Agroforestry Policy, 2026.
The India State of Forest Report 2023 states that Tamil Nadu has 26,450.22 sq km of forest area and 5,370.72 sq km of tree cover, together accounting for 24.47% of the state’s total geographical area (1,30,060 sq km).
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow in 2021, India committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. As part of its climate goals under the Paris Agreement, India aims to create an additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent carbon sink by 2030. To reach this goal, the country needs to plant trees on 26 million hectares of additional land to bring 33% of its land under forest and tree cover. Currently, forests and trees together cover 25.17% of India’s land, while trees outside forests (TOF) cover 3.41%.
Due to climate change and erratic rainfall, agriculture in India has become riskier and less profitable. Agroforestry—the integration of trees with crops and/or livestock—can help address this by:
• Improving microclimates
• Conserving soil and water resources
• Increasing carbon sequestration
• Providing additional income for farmers
• Supporting sustainable land use and biodiversity
Agroforestry also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly land degradation neutrality (Target 15.3).
However, agroforestry expansion in India has faced several challenges:
• Strict regulations on tree felling and transport
• Lack of quality planting material
• Poor marketing infrastructure for timber
• Limited credit and insurance
• Weak extension and support systems
About 65% of India’s timber demand is met from trees grown on farms. Tamil Nadu regulates tree cutting and transportation through laws such as:
• Tamil Nadu Hilly Areas (Protection of Trees) Act, 1955
• Tamil Nadu Timber Transportation Rules, 1968
• Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Rules, 1967
• Tamil Nadu Spear Tree (Protection) Act, 1994
Through the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, the state government aims to increase forest and tree cover from 23.6% (2021) to 33% by 2030-31, aligned with the National Forest Policy 1988 and Tamil Nadu State Forest Policy 2018. Experts believe this target can largely be achieved through agroforestry expansion.
According to Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Tamil Nadu already has about 1.12 million hectares under agroforestry, with strong potential for expansion due to increasing demand for timber and environmental benefits.
Agroforestry and Carbon Sequestration
India’s carbon stock in 2023 is estimated at 7,285.5 million tonnes, increasing annually by 40.75 million tonnes, equivalent to 149.42 million tonnes of CO₂.
While mature trees store carbon but sequester little additional carbon, young and fast-growing trees in agroforestry systems can capture up to 50 tonnes of carbon per hectare within a 7-year rotation.
Conclusion
Agroforestry is an important sustainable land-use system that combines trees, crops, and livestock in the same area. It:
• Improves climate resilience
• Enhances biodiversity
• Conserves natural resources
• Provides economic benefits for farmers
Thus, agroforestry plays a critical role in climate change mitigation and sustainable development in India.
