Social Forestry

Social forestry is the management and protection of forests, along with the planting of trees on barren land, done with the aim of supporting environmental, social, and rural development. It treats trees not just as a source of timber but as a tool for improving the lives of people and the health of the land around them.

The National Commission on Agriculture (1976) classified social forestry into three categories: urban forestry, rural forestry, and farm forestry.

Urban forestry deals with the raising and management of trees on both public and privately owned land in and around cities. This includes green belts, parks, roadside avenues, and the green belts around industrial and commercial areas. Its purpose is to bring greenery into the urban environment and improve the quality of life in towns.

Rural forestry focuses on two linked practices: agro-forestry and community forestry.

• Agro-forestry is the raising of trees and agricultural crops on the same piece of land, including waste patches. It combines forestry with agriculture, so the same land simultaneously produces food, fodder, fuel, timber, and fruit. This makes the land more productive and gives farmers multiple sources of income and material. …