Category: Agroforestry

Drip Irrigation in Agroforestry Carbon Projects | Anaxee Digital Runners

Drip Irrigation – The Veins of Agroforestry and Carbon Projects

At Anaxee, we work in the field of carbon and climate projects. Our job is not only to plant trees, but also to make sure that those trees survive for the long term and grow into real forests. Over the years, one of the biggest lessons we have learned is this:

🌱 Tree plantation without water management is like building a house without a foundation.

When we talk about water management in agroforestry, nothing is more important than drip irrigation. For us, drip irrigation is not just a technology, it is the veins of any agroforestry project.

In this blog, we want to share why drip irrigation is so important, how it works, its benefits, challenges, alternatives, and what our own experience at Anaxee has been while implementing it in climate projects.

Planting is Easy, Survival is Hard

When people see a plantation project, they mostly count how many saplings were planted. 10,000? 1 lakh? 1 million? The number sounds big. But the real question is: How many survived after 2 years? After 5 years?

In India, unfortunately, many plantation drives fail because survival is not taken seriously. People plant trees during the rainy season, take photos, and then forget about them. Without care, water, and monitoring, most of those trees die.

At Anaxee, we focus on survival rate more than planting numbers. And one of the strongest tools for high survival is drip irrigation.

What is Drip Irrigation?

Drip irrigation is a method where water is supplied directly to the root zone of the plant, drop by drop. Instead of flooding the land, small pipes and tubes are laid out, with outlets (called drippers) near each plant.

This system makes sure that every single plant receives water in the right amount, slowly and consistently. No wastage, no flooding, no overuse.

That is why we call it the veins of a plantation project. Just like veins carry blood to every organ in our body, drip carries water to every plant in the field.

Why Drip Irrigation is Non-Negotiable

In our experience, if you are serious about agroforestry or carbon projects, you must have drip irrigation. Without it, the whole investment can go to waste.

Here’s why:

  1. Survival Rates Go Up
    With drip irrigation, survival rates of plants can reach 90–95%. Without it, survival often drops below 40–50%. Imagine planting 10,000 trees and losing half of them – that’s not only wasted money, but also wasted effort and hope.
  2. Water Efficiency
    Water is precious, especially in dry areas. Drip uses up to 60% less water compared to traditional irrigation. Every drop counts.
  3. Consistent Growth
    Trees need regular water in the early years. Drip gives uniform supply, which leads to healthier and faster growth.
  4. Saves Labor
    Manual watering with buckets or hoses is time-consuming and costly. Drip reduces labor needs drastically.
  5. Scalable for Large Projects
    Whether you are planting 1,000 trees or 1 million, drip systems can be designed to cover the entire land.

Challenges in Using Drip Irrigation

We also understand that drip irrigation is not without challenges. Here are some problems we see in the field:

-High Initial Cost: Setting up pipes, pumps, and filters requires investment.

-Maintenance Issues: Pipes can get clogged with dust or algae, so they need regular cleaning.

-Dependence on Water Source: If there is no water source nearby, tankers or ponds must be arranged.

-Farmer Awareness: Many farmers still prefer traditional methods and need training to adapt to drip.

At Anaxee, we always plan for these challenges in advance. For example, when we design a carbon project, we include the cost of drip in the budget itself, instead of treating it as an extra expense.

Alternatives to Drip Irrigation

Sometimes, drip may not be possible everywhere. In such cases, alternatives can be used:

  1. Mulching – Covering the soil around plants with straw, leaves, or plastic to reduce evaporation.
  2. Rainwater Harvesting – Creating ponds or tanks to store rainwater and use later.
  3. Manual Watering – Feasible for very small plantations, but not for large projects.
  4. Sprinklers – Can be used, but they waste more water compared to drip.
  5. Trenches and Contour Bunding – To capture rainwater and direct it to plant roots.

These methods can help, but nothing matches the precision and efficiency of drip irrigation, especially for large-scale plantations.

Real-Life Examples

In one of our projects in Madhya Pradesh, we planted more than 50,000 saplings on semi-arid land. The land received very little rainfall. Without drip irrigation, survival would have been less than 30%.

But with a carefully designed drip system, survival rate touched 92%. After two years, the trees had not only survived but grown to healthy heights. This showed us once again that drip is the backbone of plantation success.

How Drip Systems Work in Projects

-First, the land is surveyed and mapped.

-Then, water sources are identified – borewells, ponds, or tanks.

-Pipes are laid out across the land.

-Small emitters are placed near each plant.

-Water flows under controlled pressure, directly reaching roots.

In many of our projects, we also combine drip with geo-tagging and monitoring apps. This way, we know which trees are surviving, and where water is flowing.

Drip Irrigation and Carbon Projects

For carbon projects, survival is everything. A tree that dies cannot capture carbon. Investors and companies funding carbon offset projects expect long-term impact.

Drip irrigation ensures that:

-Trees survive beyond the initial years.

-Carbon sequestration targets are met.

-Monitoring data shows real impact.

This is why, at Anaxee, we never treat drip as optional. It is part of the project design from day one.

Farmer’s Perspective

For farmers, drip irrigation is also beneficial. It saves water, reduces workload, and increases the chance of getting fruits and timber in the future. In fact, government schemes often subsidize drip systems because they know its importance.

We often tell farmers – “If you are planting trees for your future, don’t compromise on drip today.”

Conclusion – Water is Life

Planting trees is only half the story. The other half is ensuring their survival. Drip irrigation is one of the most effective tools we have to make plantations sustainable and successful.

At Anaxee, we see drip as the silent hero of climate projects. It may not look glamorous, but without it, forests cannot survive. With it, every drop of water becomes an investment in our future.

So next time you see a plantation project, don’t just count the trees. Ask – Where is the water coming from? How are they being sustained? The answer will tell you how successful that project will be in the long run.

About Anaxee:

Anaxee drives large-scale, country-wide Climate and Carbon Credit projects across India. We specialize in Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and community-driven initiatives, providing the technology and on-ground network needed to execute, monitor, and ensure transparency in projects like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, improved cookstoves, solar devices, water filters and more. Our systems are designed to maintain integrity and verifiable impact in carbon methodologies.

Beyond climate, Anaxee is India’s Reach Engine- building the nation’s largest last-mile outreach network of 100,000 Digital Runners (shared, tech-enabled field force). We help corporates, agri-focused companies, and social organizations scale to rural and semi-urban India by executing projects in 26 states, 540+ districts, and 11,000+ pin codes, ensuring both scale and 100% transparency in last-mile operations.

Drone based Tree Counting Agroforestry in India

The Ideal Process Flow for Agroforestry Projects | Anaxee

The Ideal Process Flow for Agroforestry Projects (Especially on Farmer Land)

In many agroforestry projects, people get excited and start rushing things.
Pits are dug by generic labourers & contractors, approx number of saplings dispatched to site, plantation begins- but then problems start coming one after another. Plants don’t survive, saplings count in mismatched saplings are either short or over supplied on a plot, it leads to waste of sapling, or opportunity. You are dependent on field supervisors for information about the project, rather depending on quality checked data. You are at the mercy of people on the ground.
 
Even worse, after 2–3 years, there’s no proper data of actual plantation done, which affects the carbon credit process.
graphical representation of Agroforestry Project's Step-by-Step Process
From our experience on farmer lands, we advise Project Developers and Investors a very different scalable work-flow for a foolproof Agroforestry project. We suggest using Technology from Day 1, during the planning stage. The technology should drive actions done on the field, and not vice versa.

Here is how the flow should look like:

1. Baseline Survey + KML Mapping 
Before touching the land parcel, understand it properly. Do a proper baseline survey and Polygon mapping, generate KML files to digitally mark the boundary of each farmer’s land.
Then use this polygon mapping to study the shape of the land and check for any barriers like water bodies, houses, slopes or bunds. This helps you know how much area is actually usable and available for plantation
2. Pit Digging & Infrastructure Setup
Calculate exact number of trees possible in that land parcel. Don’t let the labourers dig pits randomly. Decide how many pits to dig, where to dig and what spacing to keep between saplings. Create a layout for every plot, similar to how architects create drawings for every room in a house. If it’s a bund plantation, count the available bunds and total trees which can be accommodated on that bund.
Also plan and install drip irrigation before plantation begins. Water supply is very important in the first 2–3 years of plant life. Don’t delay it.
3. Digital Count of the Pits
Once the pits are ready, do the pits counting digitally.
If possible, use drones to get aerial visuals and understand the area better.
This gives a more accurate number of how many saplings you really need.
4. Plantation + Geo-Tagging
Field worker Geo Tagging the trees in Agroforestry Project

 

During plantation, make sure each sapling is geo-tagged or marked with a unique ID.
This helps you track which sapling was planted where, and makes it easier for monitoring later.
Think of every tree like a data point.
5. Digital Monitoring & Replantation Planning

Tech For Climate, dMRV tool

After plantation, don’t forget the plants. Do follow ups regularly- after the first rain, after 6 months, and again after 1 year. If some saplings die, you’ll know exactly which ones need to be replanted if they’re geo-tagged. Otherwise, replantation becomes full of guesswork and confusion.
6. Carbon Monitoring & Reporting
Anaxee Digital Runner capturing images and data in a mature agroforestry plot with rows of trees, enabling real-time monitoring and verification for carbon credit generation

 

If your goal is to earn carbon credits, you need 2–3 years of consistent digital records.
This includes:
– Tree survival data
– Geo-tagged reports
– Replantation logs
– Irrigation reports
 
Only with this kind of digital documentation and tech-based process, your project will qualify for carbon credit eligibility.
Agroforestry is not just about planting trees- it’s about managing them like large-scale operations. And for that system to work, you need a proper process.
Follow this flow strictly, especially when working on small holding farmers’ land.
It saves time, reduces plant loss and improves the overall impact of the project.
Want to know how we do this step-by-step? or need help with the implementation work, Connect with our Climate team at sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com
Field Worker Sapling nursery agroforestry carbon project in India

 

About Anaxee:

Anaxee drives large-scale, country-wide Climate and Carbon Credit projects across India. We specialize in Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and community-driven initiatives, providing the technology and on-ground network needed to execute, monitor, and ensure transparency in projects like agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, improved cookstoves, solar devices, water filters and more. Our systems are designed to maintain integrity and verifiable impact in carbon methodologies.

Beyond climate, Anaxee is India’s Reach Engine- building the nation’s largest last-mile outreach network of 100,000 Digital Runners (shared, tech-enabled field force). We help corporates, agri-focused companies, and social organizations scale to rural and semi-urban India by executing projects in 26 states, 540+ districts, and 11,000+ pin codes, ensuring both scale and 100% transparency in last-mile operations.

Carbon-Grade Tree Plantation: How India’s Trees Outside Forests Super-Charge Climate Action & CSR Impact

India’s Hidden Carbon Sink: Trees Outside Forests Explained

1. A nine-percent green cushion India can’t ignore

India’s Trees Outside Forests (TOF)- all trees outside the legal forest boundary- already cover 29.38 million ha, 8.94 % of the nation’s landmass. They store an astonishing 2 531.8 million tonnes of carbon, roughly 38 % of all carbon held by India’s forest-and-tree cover . In climate terms, that is India’s single largest “sleeping sink,” soaking up emissions equivalent to the entire annual footprint of the European Union.

Metric Figure
TOF extent 29.38 M ha
Share of India G.A. 8.94 %
Total carbon stock 2 531.8 Mt
Potential annual timber yield 85.16 million m³
2. Environmental dividends that go far beyond tonnes of CO₂

TOF resources deliver a multi-layered suite of ecological services:

– Soil & water security- tree roots cut erosion and shield watersheds from siltation.
– Biodiversity corridors- scattered and block plantations knit fragmented habitats, vital for pollinators and small fauna.
– Micro-climate stabilization- canopy cover tempers heat extremes, a blessing for India’s rising urban heat-island index.
– Desertification control- windbreaks along canals, roads and farm bunds arrest sand drift in semi-arid belts.
– Livelihood resilience- fuelwood, fruit, fodder and timber diversify farm income, backing rural food security.

3. What makes a plantation carbon grade?

We define a carbon-grade tree plantation as one that:

1. Maps to an FSI 5 × 5 km TOF grid, ensuring verifiable baselines.

2. Falls within FSI’s recognized categories—block, linear, scattered, agro-settlement, roadside, rail, canal or wasteland.

3. Uses species with published volume equations (e.g., Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica).

4. Commits to periodic stock inventory identical to FSI’s methodology, making carbon deltas credit-ready.

Result? Transaction costs plummet and carbon credits become bankable within one verification cycle.

4. Climate-mitigation math you can’t afford to miss

Planting one hectare of mixed-species TOF bunds adds ±80 t CO₂e over 30 years.
Scale that across even 10 % of the 43.16 million ha of plantable non-forest land India has identified , and you unlock a future sink of ≈345 Mt CO₂e—a full 14 % of India’s Paris-pledged extra sink by 2030.

5. Where should private capital focus first?
Three types of Trees Outside Forests (TOF) in India: scattered farm trees, roadside linear plantations, and block plantations on open land
Image Credit- FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA

 

Site class Carbon upside Environmental co-benefit Data proof Why corporates?
Culturable wasteland Highest hectares available Reclaims degraded soil FSI wasteland overlays Land is cheap; CSR-fundable
National / State highways Linear forest corridors Road-safety shade + dust buffer Geo-referenced road layer Visibility for brand ESG
Rail corridors & sidings Low conflict footprint Noise & windbreak Rail GIS shapefiles Long-term leases possible
Canal banks Moisture rich, fast growth Reduce evaporation Irrigation dept. maps Shared maintenance budgets

All four are specifically recommended by the FSI’s plantation approaches to lift carbon stock.

6. Species that maximise both carbon and revenue
Species Share of rural TOF volume Added value
Mango (Mangifera indica) 12.7 % Fruit + timber; cultural icon
Neem (Azadirachta indica) 8.1 % Bio-pesticide market
Acacia (A. nilotica) 4 % Durable poles, fodder
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 3.4 %† urban Coastal carbon sink

Smart mix: pair high-density mango with nitrogen-fixing acacia for a resilient, carbon-heavy canopy.

7. CSR & private investment: the triple win

India’s Companies Act mandates that 2 % of average net profits flow to CSR. Tree planting is an approved Schedule VII activity. By adopting carbon-grade tree plantations:
1. Emission targets- claim third-party verified removals, not vague “green clubs.”
2. Community goodwill- farmers gain diversified incomes from timber and NTFP yields (annual timber potential hits 85 m m³ nationally).
3. Brand equity- visible, GPS-tagged plantations show up on dashboards that global buyers audit for Scope 3 supply-chain disclosure.

8. Conclusion- plant where the math, the planet and profits align

India’s TOF estate is already a giant carbon sponge. Scale it by even a few million hectares of carbon-grade tree plantations and you create an environmental flywheel: deeper rural livelihoods, cleaner air, cooler cities and a Paris-aligned carbon sink. Corporate CSR boards and global impact investors have a once-in-a-generation chance to write their names- literally- into India’s green map.

Field Worker Capturing a Photo of Trees in Agroforestry Project in India

 

Ready to talk hectares, tonnes, and timelines?
Reach out to Anaxee Climate Services for a rapid opportunity scan and see where your capital can plant the next climate dividend.

 

FAQs:

Q. What are Trees Outside Forests?
All trees beyond India’s recorded forest area- farm bunds, roadsides, canal banks, rail verges, urban parks and homesteads.
Q. How much carbon do they hold now?
About 2 531.8 Mt, combining 1 595.7 Mt in forest cover patches and 936.1 Mt in tree cover .

Q. Why “carbon-grade” matters?
FSI-aligned plots, species and sampling make credits defensible; buyers pay premiums for transparency (see Section 3 above).

Q. Is extra land really available?
Yes—FSI’s NDC study cites 43.16 million ha of plantable area on wasteland, highways, canals and agro-corridors .

Q. Top states to start?
Maharashtra (234.6 Mt carbon), Odisha (206.7 Mt), Karnataka (195.3 Mt), Madhya Pradesh (195.9 Mt) and Uttar Pradesh (135.8 Mt) lead the current stock league.

Q. Which species finish projects fastest?
Fast-growing poplar for short rotations, but mango and neem balance carbon, cash and co-benefits.

Q. What’s the MRV cost benchmark?
Digitised, grid-synced sampling can cut typical field audit budgets by >30 %; Anaxee’s hybrid model leverages existing Digital Runner network (internal data).

Q. Can harvested wood still count?
Yes. Harvested wood products continue to store carbon; re-planting keeps the sink net-positive, as reflected in FSI’s potential yield tables.

Q. How soon can CSR boards report impact?
Baseline + planting year = Year 0, first growth audit typically in Year 3, credit issuance depends on methodology but early claims (ex-ante) can appear in sustainability reports immediately.

Q. Is this eligible for international finance?
Alignment with FSI data and India’s NDC road-map positions projects for Article 6 or voluntary market transactions. Global buyers increasingly prefer removal credits tied to strong national inventories.

Next step?
Book a free 30-minute TOF scoping call with Anaxee. We map your landbank, run a carbon forecast and outline an MRV budget in under a week.

Reference: All quantitative data and methodological descriptions are sourced from Forest Survey of India, “Trees Outside Forest Resources in India,” Technical Information Series Volume 2, No 1, 2020

Madhya Pradesh Forest Economy: NTFP, Carbon Credits & Digital MRV in 2025

From Mahua to Carbon Credits – Building Madhya Pradesh’s Forest Economy

At 25 % forest cover, MP is resource‑rich yet revenue‑poor. Its NTFP sector—Tendu, Mahua, Sal seed—touches 2 million collectors but barely cracks ₹5,000 crore annually. Meanwhile, the same forests stockpile 450 Mt CO₂e that global buyers could pay for. This blog maps the pathway from leaf‑basket to blockchain credit.

 

1. NTFP Deep Dive – Numbers & Gaps

-Tendu Leaves: 115 M D. melanoxylon trees yield 600,000 tonnes/year. Farm‑gate price ₹5,500/qt; collectors earn <₹150/day.

-Mahua Flowers: 1.9 M Madhuca trees but <40 % harvested—lack of cold‑

-Sal Seed: 9 M tress produce foaming agent worth ₹200 cr, yet middlemen keep 70 % margin.

2. Carbon Gold – Quantifying the Pool

Pool Stock (Mt CO₂e) Monetization Route
Above‑ground biomass 220 Improved Forest Management (IFM)
Soil & litter 150 Bio‑char + soil carbon credit
Agro‑silvi belts 80 ARR/AR (afforestation)

 

 

At $12/ton, that’s a $5 billion upside over 10 years.

3. Digital MRV – The New Compliance Currency-
Carbon buyers demand verifiable data. Anaxee’s Tech for climate offers- Baseline survey, Farmer Onboarding, satellite/polygon mapping, tree counting, geotagging, monitoring etc.

Tech For Climate, dMRV tool

 

Result: MRV cost drops from $4/ha/year to <$1

4. Case Study – Betul Teak Credit Project

-Area: 12,000 ha community teak.
-Intervention: Reduced impact logging + invasive removal.
-Outcome: +3.2 tCO₂e/ha/year verified; first issuance 2024 (Gold Standard).
-Benefit Sharing: 60 % credit revenue to Joint Forest Committees: avg ₹9,500 per household.

5. Turning Lantana Into Bio‑char Bricks

With 5,914 km² under Lantana camara invasion, MP loses fodder & regeneration. Pyrolysis units convert 1 ton Lantana → 280 kg bio‑char → locks 0.7 tCO₂e. Selling at ₹25/kg gives ₹7,000/ton gross, more than firewood.

6. Mahua 2.0- Cold‑Chain + Blockchain

Solar chillers + RFID sacks preserve flower quality; blockchain ledger proves organic origin. Early pilots in Mandla show 42 % price lift.

7. Financing the Transition

-Green Credit Programme (GoI): Earn credits for invasive removal & tree planting.

-CSR Pool: MP attracted ₹1,800 cr CSR in FY 24—link 10 % to forest livelihoods.

-Carbon Forward Deals: Pre‑sale agreements fund early costs; Anaxee’s platform matches buyers.

8. Policy Wishlist

1-  Single‑Window NTFP Transport Passes – cut lead time 50 %.
2- State Carbon Registry – faster project approvals vs national backlog.
3- Outcome‑Based MGNREGS – pay per hectare of verified invasive clearance.

9. Roadmap 2025–30

Year Milestone Revenue
2,025 50 Mahua cold‑stores ₹250 cr
2,026 100,000 ha IFM carbon projects $30 M
2,027 Lantana‑bio‑char scale to 1 Mt biomass ₹700 cr
2,030 State Forest Economy hits ₹20,000 cr

 

Conclusion

The forest fringe of Madhya Pradesh is rich but cash‑starved. By coupling NTFP value‑chain upgrades with verified carbon credits, and anchoring both in transparent digital MRV, the state can unlock a new green economy. Anaxee’s Climate tech & runner network is the catalyst. Time to turn Mahua into money—and carbon into community capital. Connect With us sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com today.

Field Worker Sapling nursery agroforestry carbon project in madhya pradesh

 

Madhya Pradesh Forest Report 2023: Cover, Change & Carbon Roadmap

Madhya Pradesh’s 2023 Forest Report Card:

Madhya Pradesh Green Map

 

1. How Green Is the “Heart of India” in 2023?

  • Total Forest Cover: 77,073 km²- a quarter (≈ 25 %) of the state’s 308,252 km² landscape.
  • Inside RFA vs Outside: 67,770 km² lies inside recorded forest area, while 9,303 km² sits on revenue & private lands.
  • Canopy Classes: 7,021 km² Very Dense, 33,509 km² Moderately Dense, 36,543 km² Open Forest.
  • Net Two‑Year Change (2021→2023): +417 km² VDF, –310 km² MDF, –134 km² OF inside RFA—showing densification in key blocks.

Takeaway: MP added dense green core even as some medium‑density tracts opened up—likely selective harvesting + rapid teak/sal regrowth.

 

2. Winners & Losers: District Signals

A quick scan of 52 districts shows mixed fortunes — Balaghat, Chhindwara and Betul hold >50 % forest cover, while Bhind and Datia remain below 10 %. Eastern districts (Sidhi, Singrauli) gained canopy after community teak protection, whereas western Malwa lost patch forests to soy expansion.

3. What’s Growing Where – Forest‑Type Mosaic

Dry deciduous formations dominate: Dry Teak (21,715 km², 27 %) and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous (19,581 km², 24 %) head the list. Moist Sal pockets (~2,747 km²) in the east are critical climate refugia.

Why it matters: Teak builds commercial volume fast; Sal locks dense carbon but burns easily when litter dries—dual management needed.

4. Fire: The Elephant in the Sal Forest

Nearly 33 % of MP’s woods fall in “Highly” or worse fire‑prone bands; another 49 % is “Less fire prone” fileciteturn3file8. The 2024 heatwave pushed fire alerts above 18,000. Hotspots: Shahdol‑Umaria belt (Sal litter) and Ratapani‑Sehore teak ridges.

5. Species, Biomass & Carbon Treasure

Segment Top Species Trees (‘000) Volume (Mm³)
RFA Tectona grandis 348,017 62
  Shorea robusta 153,943 62.2
Rural Butea monosperma 76,206 16.6
  Acacia nilotica 47,313 9.9
Urban Azadirachta indica 1,758 1.25

These numbers translate to >450 Mt CO₂e stored—a prime pool for carbon credits if monitored right.

Mahua and Tendu Trees In Madhya Pradesh

6. NTFP Economy – The Tendu & Mahua Story

  • Tendu Leaves: 115 million trees of Diospyros melanoxylon—₹700 cr annual trade.
  • Mahua & Sal Seed: 9 M trees offer $200 M untapped nutraceutical value.

Digital traceability could raise collector income by 30 % through direct buyer links.

7. The Invasion We Ignore

Lantana camara carpets 5,914 km²—more than Goa’s area—choking teak regeneration. Drones + community removal credits can flip this liability into livelihood.

8. Carbon & ESG Playbook for 2025–30

  1. Dense‑Patch Carbon Projects: Target 417 km² of new VDF for premium credits.
  2. Fire‑Resilient Buffer Belts: Neem + Bamboo rings around Sal stands—backed by Green Credit funding.
  3. Invasive‑to‑Bio‑char: Pay villages ₹1/kg lantana → pyrolyse → bio‑char into soy farms. 

9. Action Checklist for Policy & CSR

Priority Action Metric Timeline
Fire 100 community rapid squads <5 min response 2025
Carbon Register 50,000 ha teak‑sal REDD+ 2 Mt CO₂e credits 2026
NTFP E‑market for Tendu/Mahua 30% farm‑gate price 2024

Bottom line: Madhya Pradesh sits on a green goldmine- dense teak, carbon‑rich Sal and a people‑centric NTFP economy. Digitization is the accelerator. Let’s put the “heart” of India at the heart of climate action. To know more connect with sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com.

Anaxee field worker inspecting sapling nursery for carbon-grade TOF plantation under afforestation project in Madhya Pradesh

 

Agroforestry in India 2023: ISFR Insights & TOF Trends You Can’t Ignore

Agroforestry & TOF Boom: What ISFR 2023 Reveals About India’s Tree Outside Forest Revolution

Three types of Trees Outside Forests (TOF) in India: scattered farm trees, roadside linear plantations, and block plantations on open land
Image Credit- FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA

Introduction

Trees Outside Forests (TOF) and agroforestry have emerged as silent powerhouses of India’s green strategy. While forests get the headlines, TOF and agroforestry are doing the heavy lifting when it comes to carbon capture, livelihood support, and rural resilience.

According to the ISFR 2023, TOF contributes 37.11% to India’s total forest and tree cover. This is a game-changing insight.

1. TOF by the Numbers

TOF extent: 30.70 million hectares (37.11% of total green cover).
Top states in TOF cover: Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.
Tree cover increase: +1,289.4 sq. km from 2021, largely due to TOF.

Agroforestry and TOF expansion is being driven by farmer participation, CSR-backed plantation, and policy shifts like the National Agroforestry Policy (2014).

2. Agroforestry’s Carbon Value

Total Agroforestry tree cover: 1,27,590.05 sq. km
Carbon stock under agroforestry: 1,291.68 million m3
Carbon increase since 2013: +286.94 M m3 (28.56%)

The ISFR 2023 data proves agroforestry is no longer just a soil and livelihood measure. It’s now a carbon sink tool for India’s NDC targets and the voluntary carbon market.

3. Dominant Species & Use Cases

Top agroforestry species:

Mangifera indica (Mango)
Azadirachta indica (Neem)
Prosopis juliflora, Eucalyptus, Areca catechu

These species serve multiple markets: pulp & paper, fruit, timber, and carbon offset.

Use cases:

Bund plantations in smallholder farms
Agroforestry corridors on degraded land
Canal-side and railway-side tree belts

4. State-Level Innovation

Maharashtra leads in TOF growing stock (213.93 M m3)
Uttar Pradesh excels in bund-based agroforestry
Odisha integrates agroforestry with MNREGS

Many of these gains are community-driven and CSR-supported.

5. Why Corporates Should Act Now

India is short of afforestation-ready forest land.
TOF offers a scalable alternative for CSR and ESG investment.
Bund agroforestry can be implemented at low cost, with fast results and carbon credits.

Early movers in TOF carbon projects can establish leadership in climate finance.

Conclusion: Time to Go Beyond the Forest

TOF and agroforestry are not fringe practices- they’re central to India’s climate strategy. With rising carbon stock, farmer buy-in, and government policy alignment, this is the space where private players can act, invest, and lead.

For climate-conscious companies and institutions, Trees Outside Forests is the new frontier. And Anaxee is already building the infrastructure to digitize and drive this revolution, To know how connect at sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com

India’s Forest Report 2023: Top Gainers, Climate Impact & Forest Trends

India’s Forest Cover in 2023- Winners, Losers & What It Means for Climate Action

Introduction

India’s forests are more than ecological spaces—they’re climate shields, biodiversity hubs, and livelihoods for millions. Every two years, the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) becomes the definitive pulse check on the nation’s green wealth. The 2023 report and the numbers speak of both triumph and challenge.

This blog unpacks the biggest winners and losers in forest cover change, pinpoints state-wise shifts, and explores what it all means for climate resilience and India’s carbon commitments.

1. The Big Picture: Forest & Tree Cover Status

  • Total forest cover: 7,15,342.61 sq. km (21.76% of India’s geographical area).
  • Total tree cover: 1,12,014.34 sq. km (3.41%).
  • Combined forest and tree cover: 8,27,356.95 sq. km (25.17%).
  • Net increase from 2021: +1,445.81 sq. km

While the forest cover rose modestly by 156.41 sq. km, the tree cover surged by 1,289.4 sq. km, largely driven by Trees Outside Forests (TOF) and agroforestry efforts.

2. Top Gainers in Forest & Tree Cover

a. Chhattisgarh: +683.62 sq. km

  • Agroforestry expansion, community forestry models, and decentralized planning drove growth.

b. Uttar Pradesh: +559.19 sq. km

  • Massive increase in TOF due to agroforestry and rural greening initiatives.

c. Odisha: +558.57 sq. km

  • Coastal afforestation and community plantation programs contributed.

d. Rajasthan: +394.46 sq. km

  • Surprising gain, mostly from TOF and canal-side plantation models.

3. Top Losers in Forest & Tree Cover

a. Madhya Pradesh: -612.41 sq. km

  • Despite being the greenest state by area, MP saw declines from encroachment and shifting land use.

b. Karnataka: -459.36 sq. km

  • Urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and grazing pressures cited.

c. Ladakh: -159.26 sq. km

  • Harsh climatic zones with decreasing snowline affecting natural vegetation.

d. Nagaland: -125.22 sq. km

  • Shifting cultivation and forest degradation are leading causes.

4. Why These Shifts Matter for Climate

India has committed under the Paris Agreement to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2030. While incremental gains are positive, they are not yet transformational.

India set its target to achieve Emission Intensity of GDP 33-35% below 2005 levels by 2030, Power capacity to 40% non fossil fuel based.

Losses in key biodiversity zones (like Northeastern states) threaten both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Forests are not just carbon sinks but also temperature regulators and rainmakers.

5. Urban Forest Trends

Mega-cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are now monitored separately. Urban greening efforts are rising, but pollution and urban sprawl pose continued threats.

6. Policy Tools and Community Participation

  • CAMPA funds, MGNREGS, and State Green Missions are pivotal.
  • Joint Forest Management (JFM) and Van Panchayats show results where implemented with transparency.

7. The Anaxee Perspective: Digitizing India’s Forest Revolution

Anaxee, with its rural network and tech stack, can:

  • Conduct real-time forest monitoring using digital apps.
  • Geotag tree plantations and track survival rates.
  • Mobilize local communities to safeguard TOF regions.

By making afforestation traceable and verifiable, Anaxee can enhance forest-based carbon credit readiness.

Conclusion: What Lies Ahead?

The ISFR 2023 is a mixed bag. Gains in states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha are promising. However, net losses in forest cover in several ecological hotspots signal the need for urgent action.

Digitally monitored and community-led forestry holds the key. India can still meet its carbon sink targets, but it will require scale, transparency, and innovation- something Anaxee is already building on. if you need more knowledge about these agroforestry in India, Connect with sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com

Anaxee team member inspecting sapling nursery for carbon-grade TOF plantation afforestation project in India

5 High-Impact “Carbon-Grade” Tree-Outside-Forest Projects Corporates Are Funding in India (2020-25)

 

Indian corporates have turned Trees Outside Forests (TOF) from a policy footnote into a frontline climate-mitigation tool. Below we dissect five of the largest private TOF programmes launched or scaled in the last five years, showing where they operate, how many trees they have already put in the ground, who implements them—and, crucially, what kind of digitisation is keeping auditors happy and carbon-credit buyers confident.

1. The Scorecard at a Glance
India’s Biggest Private-Sector TOF Projects: Data, Partners & Digital Tricks You Can Copy

2. Why These Projects Matter for Climate & CSR

  • Carbon-grade potential – All five initiatives fit at least one of the nine TOF categories recognized by the Forest Survey of India, making their biomass additions “credit-ready” when paired with proper monitoring.
  • Scale & replication – Together they account for >1.4 billion new trees, roughly 55 % of India’s annual timber demand in standing stock.
  • Digital traceability – Geo-tagged saplings, virtual adoption portals and FSC-linked databases cut MRV costs by 30-50 %, a critical lever for smallholder aggregation.

3. Mini-Case Files:

3.1 ITC – From Pulpwood to Carbon Sink
Started 2001; turbo-scaled post-2020

  • Model: Bund and block plantations supplying pulpwood, energy wood and fruit; farmers receive premium clones.
  • Scale levers: In-house clonal R&D and guaranteed buy-back plus open-market option.
  • Digital twist: FSC chain-of-custody tags every plot; satellite dashboards flag survival anomalies weekly.
  • Why copy?: Proven economics—farmers net ₹60-80 k per 4-year cycle without losing cropping space.

3.2 Mahindra Hariyali – Geo-Tagging at Farmer Level
Launched 2007; 5 M trees/yr pledge to 2026

  • FY 23-24 reach: 500 005 saplings across 156 villages, 4 768 farmers.
  • Tech: Each sapling pinned via mobile GPS; WhatsApp groups crowd-verify survival.
  • Carbon maths: Recent impact audit projects 68 000 t CO₂e by 2027 for the FY 23-24 cohort alone.
  • Edge: Low-cost community MRV piggybacks on farmer smartphones—template for other CSR boards.

3.3 Tata Motors – Orchard-Plus-Forestry Wadi Model
Pilot 2018-19; scaled 2024

  • Package: 100 fruit + 100 forestry trees per acre under Integrated Village Development Programme, boosting incomes and nutrition.
  • Partners: BAIF handles agronomy, MNREGS funds after-care wages—rare triple-lever finance stack.
  • Outcomes: Distress migration down 30 % in target blocks; carbon baseline created for Article 6 pathway.

3.4 Reliance Foundation – Triveni & Digital Forest
Flagship since 2022

  • Approach: Dense native-species clusters planted with community women’s groups; progress streamed on a public “digital forest” microsite.
  • Volume: 3 200-tree pilots scaled to 1.5 M trees across multiple states by mid-2024.
  • What’s new: Real-time dashboards plus VR walk-throughs—useful marketing for ESG-minded investors.

3.5 Axis Bank – Mission 2 Million Trees
Commitment period 2021-27

  • Spread: Mangrove rehab (WB, TN), agroforestry corridors (Assam), conflict-mitigation belts (KA, MP).
  • Digitization: Drone survival audits and partner-level geo-tag reporting baked into grant agreements.
  • Status: 1.33 M trees locked in; 670 k more budgeted—ample room for third-party carbon-credit structuring.

4. What We’re Learning About “Carbon-Grade” Execution

  1. Data before digging – Projects that lock baselines to the FSI 5 × 5 km grids sail through external validation faster.
  2. Traceability beats volume claims – Geo-tagging + photo time-stamps win buyer confidence even at modest scale (see Axis & Mahindra examples).
  3. Partnerships matter – Corporates rarely plant alone; NGOs like BAIF, Grow Billion Trees, SeSTA turn CSR cheques into rooted saplings on schedule.
  4. Virtual engagement raises money – Tata Power and Reliance’s public dashboards attracted employee and retail-donor micro-funds—an untapped pool for TOF.

Interested in making your next CSR rupee generate verified carbon credits? Book a 30-minute feasibility scan with Anaxee Climate Services.
Anaxee Digital Runner inspecting sapling nursery for carbon-grade TOF plantation under private-sector afforestation project in India

References

  1. ITC afforestation milestone – 1.4 Bn saplings, 1 M acres (itcportal.com)
  2. ITC FSC & multi-objective programme details (itcportal.com)
  3. Mahindra Hariyali yearly pledge & cumulative trees (1t.org)
  4. Mahindra geo-tag monitoring & 2023-24 data (mahindra.com)
  5. Tata Motors One Million Plantation metrics & BAIF partnership (tatamotors.com, emobilityplus.com)
  6. Reliance Foundation Triveni plantation scale (thecsrjournal.in, growbilliontrees.com)
  7. Reliance “digital forest” showcase (youtube.com)
  8. Axis Bank Mission 2 Million Trees progress & geo-tag audits (axisbank.com)

India’s Trees Outside Forests: The Complete Playbook for Carbon-Grade Tree Plantation & CSR-Led Impact

India’s Trees Outside Forests: Why Corporates Should Lead the Carbon-Grade Plantation Wave

Credit- FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA

1. A snapshot of an overlooked green giant

India’s Trees Outside Forests (TOF)- all trees growing beyond the legal forest boundary- span 29.38 million ha, or 8.94 % of the nation’s landmass. TOF is bigger than the combined geographical area of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, yet it rarely appears in board-room climate discussions.

State / UT TOF area (km²) % of state GA Insight
Maharashtra 26 945 8.76 % Largest absolute scope for projects
Odisha 23 458 15.1 % High carbon density
Karnataka 22 361 11.66 % Agroforestry hotspot
Kerala 14 443 37.17 % Highest share among states
Goa 1 335 36.05 % Model for coastal micro-projects

 

2. The climate jackpot hidden in farm bunds and city parks

The latest Forest Survey of India (FSI) estimate puts total carbon stock in TOF at 2 531.8 million tonnes—roughly 38 % of all carbon held by India’s forests and tree cover combined. Five states alone account for nearly a third of that stock (see Figure 10 & 11).Parallel to climate value lies a potential annual timber yield of 85 million m³, with Maharashtra (10.60 m m³/yr), Uttar Pradesh (7.47) and Karnataka (6.28) topping the chart. Corporations looking for sustainable raw-material sourcing can therefore align revenue with restoration.

3. From village surveys to 5 × 5 km grids—why the new FSI methodology matters

FSI’s assessment design has evolved from village inventories (1991-2000) to uniform 5 × 5 km grids with a 10-year cycle. Each grid is sampled for rural and urban TOF, stratifying trees into block, linear and scattered formations. This grid-based map is decision-ready for carbon accounting because:

  • Every sample plot is GPS-tagged.
  • Biomass equations convert stem volume to carbon stock by density class.
  • Uniform strata reduce sampling error, letting projects claim credits with confidence.

4. Defining a carbon grade tree plantation

We coin the term “carbon grade tree plantation” to describe any TOF expansion that:

  1. Uses FSI-accepted biomass factors for ex-ante carbon estimation;
  2. Aligns with at least one of the nine TOF categories (farm forestry, block plantation, roadside windbreaks, canal-side strips, rail verges, pond banks, homesteads, woodlots, “others”);
  3. Demonstrates monitoring compatibility with the 5 × 5 km grid inventory;
  4. Targets species with proven high carbon volume—e.g., Mango (12.7 % of rural TOF volume) or Neem (8.06 %).

Carbon grade plantations are thus “credit-ready by design”, shortening the verification runway and attracting finance.

5. Why private entities and CSR funds must step up

Government alone cannot green 29 million ha—yet FSI estimates 43.16 million ha of additional land is technically plantable without displacing food production. Three levers make corporates indispensable:

  • Regulatory nudge: India’s Companies Act mandates 2 % of average net profit be spent on CSR. Tree planting under Schedule VII already qualifies.
  • Supply-chain security: Timber demand for panels and packaging is rising; TOF offers a local, legally clear alternative to imports.
  • Reputation dividends: Verified carbon credits from carbon grade tree plantations can anchor science-based net-zero claims.

 

Suggested CSR focus areas

CSR lens High-impact TOF segment Why it works
Climate neutrality Block plantations on culturable wastelands High sequestration per hectare; easy MRV
Livelihoods Farm-bund multipurpose trees Cash + shade + fodder for smallholders
Urban resilience Park & avenue retrofits Heat-island mitigation, staff engagement days
Nature-positive infra Rail & highway windbreaks Aligns with Gati-Shakti corridors

6. Carbon-credit pathway (data strictly from FSI)

  1. Baseline: Grid-level carbon stock tables offer default factors.
  2. Plantation: Select species from the dominant 20 list; their volume equations are published (e.g., Mangifera indica equation 13).
  3. Monitoring: Repeat sampling follows the same density classes (VDF/MDF/OF).
  4. Verification: Project carbon is the delta between new inventory and baseline—no external datasets needed.

Note: While FSI does not quote market prices, each additional tonne strengthens India’s NDC commitment; corporates can claim impact without speculating on carbon value.

7. Aligning with the Government’s TOF push

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change is betting on TOF to deliver the 2.5-3 Gt CO₂-eq additional sink by 2030 pledged under the Paris Agreement. Private “carbon grade tree plantations” help in four ways:

  • Scale: CSR capital co-finances large contiguous grids.
  • Granularity: Philanthropic funds can target homesteads and scattered trees often missed by public schemes.
  • Data sharing: Industry-funded inventories can feed back into FSI’s 10-year cycle, improving national estimates.
  • Innovation: Tech platforms- such as Anaxee’s Digital Runners- can digitize field data collection, lowering transaction costs.

 

8. Action checklist for corporates

  1. Choose geography using Table 2 and carbon-stock maps.
  2. Match CSR theme (climate, rural, urban) to a TOF category.
  3. Design carbon grade plantation with species–site fit (see Section 4).
  4. Embed MRV: align plot layout with FSI grid geometry.
  5. Register credits under a recognized methodology (e.g., upcoming Indian Carbon Registry) once growth is measurable.

Frequently Asked Questions About TOF:

Q1. What exactly is Trees Outside Forests (TOF)?
TOF includes all trees growing outside the Recorded Forest Area- on farms, roadsides, canals, homesteads, city parks, etc. It covers formations larger than 1 ha as well as scattered individuals.

Q2. How extensive is India’s TOF?
FSI’s first nationwide assessment (ISFR 2019) pegs TOF at 29.38 million ha (8.94 % of India’s land).

Q3. What is a “carbon grade tree plantation”?
It’s a plantation designed from day one to fit FSI biomass factors, fall under one of nine recognized TOF categories, and align with grid-based monitoring—making it immediately suitable for verified carbon credits (see Section 4 above).

Q4. Which species deliver the highest carbon returns?
In rural TOF, Mango (12.7 % of total volume) and Neem (8.06 %) lead the pack. Coconut and Areca dominate in urban grids.

Q5. How does FSI calculate carbon stock?
FSI multiplies forest-cover area in each density class by per-hectare carbon factors derived from sample-plot biomass; tree-cover carbon uses crown-width-based plot data. Summing both gives total TOF carbon.

Q6. Are urban trees really counted?
Yes. Urban Frame Survey (UFS) blocks are sampled separately; Cocos nucifera tops the urban list at 17.19 % of trees.

Q7. What role can CSR budgets play?
Schedule VII of the Companies Act already lists “environmental sustainability” as an eligible activity. Funding carbon grade tree plantations satisfies CSR spend while generating measurable climate and livelihood outcomes.

Q8. How much land is still available for planting?
FSI’s NDC study (2019) identified 43.16 million ha of plantable land across wastelands, highways, canals and agroforestry corridors.

Q9. Does timber harvest conflict with carbon goals?
Not necessarily. FSI’s potential annual yield table (85 m m³ nationally) shows managed harvests; harvested wood products can continue to store carbon, and re-planting keeps the cycle climate-positive .

Q10. How can a company start today?
Identify a priority district, partner with an implementation specialist (e.g., Anaxee), map existing TOF grids, and design a plantation plan that meets carbon grade criteria. Early movers will gain both CSR recognition and a head-start on India’s emerging carbon-credit marketplace.

References

All statistics, tables and methodological details are drawn from Forest Survey of India, “Trees Outside Forest Resources in India,” Technical Information Series Vol. 2 No. 1, 2020 For more information you can connect with Anaxee at sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com

Native Agroforestry Trees for High-Value Carbon Credits in India – 2025 Guide

Native Trees with Maximum Climate & Biodiversity Pay-off

India’s new agroforestry wave is no longer about exotic fast-growers alone. 2025 buyers want high-integrity, native plantings that store carbon fast and rebuild local ecosystems. Field trials show that shifting from conventional cropland to tree-crop systems raises on-farm carbon stocks by about 25 % within a decade.

 

Why “native + high-carbon” matters
– Carbon revenue – Buyers pay a premium for credits backed by robust, long-term biomass data.
– Biodiversity – Native host plants bring pollinators, pest predators and under-storey herbs back, improving yield stability.
– Regulatory head-room – India’s forthcoming Carbon Credit Trading Scheme rewards “Nature-based Solutions” over pure timber blocks.

Region-wise Species Short-list & Planting Window

 

Planting Calendar Hot-spots: 
1. Nursery prep ends by March – allows hardening before peak heat.First rains (June) – mass out-planting across most states; root-shock is lowest.
2. Post-monsoon (Sept-Oct) – gap-filling for casualties; suitable for hardy species in high-rain areas.
3. Teak and Melia respond poorly to water-logging, so avoid low-lying pits. Neem and Khejri survive long dry spells, making them ideal boundary trees in semi-arid zones.
 

Take-aways for Project Developers
– Pick regionally adapted natives first – they survive, store more carbon and pass Verra/BIO PD free-rider tests.
– Sync field work with monsoon to cut irrigation costs by up to 40 %.
– Embed biodiversity metrics (e.g., pollinator counts, fodder yield) in your D-MRV to secure premium buyers.
– Leverage digital runners – Anaxee’s on-ground network can census seedlings, geotag plots and push smartphone surveys, slashing MRV overheads.

Combined, these steps position your agroforestry project for higher-integrity, higher-priced carbon credits- exactly what the 2025 market rewards. To know more connect with sales@anaxee-wp-aug25-wordpress.dock.anaxee.com