Trees outside forests (TOF): a case study of wood production and consumption in Haryana

With only 3.5 percent of its area under forests, Haryana state has become self-sufficient in small wood, fuelwood and industrial timber by instituting large-scale plantations outside forests, especially on farmlands. These plantations sustain about 670 wood-based veneer, plywood and board, manufacturing units, one large paper mill and about 4 300 sawmills. The units are mainly based on agro-forest produce, and Haryana has become the model state for agro-forestry practices. This overwhelming success results from efforts in the last three decades to promote the raising of plantations in non-forest lands by the state, national government and private and industrial concerns. The trees have not only given impetus to the growth of wood-based industries and employment opportunities but also increased the extent of area under forest and tree cover to 6.63 percent (FSI 2003).