Govt issues model rules to simplify tree felling on agricultural land

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar: The Union government on Monday said that regulations governing the felling of trees and issuance of transit permits for timber grown under agroforestry continue to be administered by state governments, while the Centre has undertaken a series of measures in recent years to simplify procedures and promote agroforestry across the country.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said that rules relating to tree felling and timber transit are governed under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, state-specific forest and tree management laws, and directions issued by courts. The list of exempted tree species and permit procedures vary across states.

The minister informed Parliament that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued guidelines and advisories to states and Union Territories aimed at liberalising felling and transit regulations to encourage agroforestry.

Among the key initiatives, the ministry revised the Wood Based Industries (Establishment and Regulation) Guidelines in 2022 to ease norms for setting up wood-based industries using agroforestry species. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has also released 69 improved varieties and clones for use in agroforestry and social forestry programmes, which are being adopted by farmers, forest departments and industries.

The government further highlighted measures to strengthen bamboo and tree-based livelihoods. In May 2022, the export policy for bamboo charcoal was amended to classify exports as “Free”, with the objective of boosting value addition and improving profitability in the bamboo sector.

In March 2023, the ministry published a handbook titled “FAQ on Agroforestry”, providing cultivation guidance on 36 tree species suitable for agroforestry systems and home gardens. Separate cultivation manuals have also been issued for commercially important species such as agarwood, sandalwood, red sanders and rosewood.

To facilitate the movement of forest produce, the Centre launched the National Transit Pass System (NTPS) in December 2023. The pan-India digital platform enables online issuance of transit permits and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for timber, bamboo and other forest produce, reducing procedural delays and enhancing transparency. According to the ministry, 436,258 transit passes have been issued nationwide under the system so far.

The ministry also notified advisory Model Rules for “Felling of Trees in Agricultural Land” in June 2025 for adoption by states and Union Territories. The rules are intended to simplify procedures governing tree felling and transit on private agricultural lands and promote greater uniformity and ease of doing business in the agroforestry sector.

The Centre said it continues to engage with states and Union Territories through consultations, workshops and capacity-building programmes to advance agroforestry initiatives across the country.

The information was shared by Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha on July 27.