Leverage agroforestry for carbon markets

The country's agroforestry plantations play a key role in stabilising its forest and tree cover, estimated at about 24% of its area. Over 25 million hectares (mha) in the country are under the agroforestry system. Timber-growing agroforestry systems fulfil more than 80% of the domestic timber demand. India imports about 15-20% of its timber requirement, and that costs us more than Rs 40,000 crore annually. Over 159 mha can be potentially developed under agroforestry.