Pulpwood-based Industrial Agroforestry in Tamil Nadu - a Case Study

Industrial plantations have been recognized as an integrated part of Indian forestry in the recent past to meet the growing needs of industries, besides satisfying domestic demands. The forest as well as agricultural policies of the country have recommended strong farmerlinked industrial wood plantation through benefit-sharing mechanism. Against this backdrop, the pulp and paper industries in the State of Tamil Nadu have promoted agro- and farmforestry-based industrial wood plantations through technological support from Forest College and Research Institute, TNAU, Mettupalayam (T.N.). This paper describes the successful establishment of Eucalyptus and Casuarinas based pulpwood plantations in the state. During 2004-05 to 2006-07, 19,349 acres have been covered in which 91% of the plantations were established in farmlands through people's participation.