This study highlights the significant potential for agroforestry expansion in Jharkhand State, India, as a means to advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. Using geographic information system (GIS) modeling, researchers assessed land suitability for agroforestry at the district level, incorporating climate (temperature and precipitation), topography (slope and elevation), ecology (tree cover and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)), and socio-economic factors (poverty rate and tribal dominance). The findings indicate that six districts—Simdega (78.20%), Pakur (76.25%), West Singhbhum (72.70%), Dumka (68.84%), Sahibganj (64.63%), and Godda (63.43%)—possess agroforestry potential exceeding 60%. Additionally, 513 villages were identified as highly suitable (≥80%) for agroforestry, offering opportunities to improve livelihoods among marginalized communities. Outside forested areas, 8.58% of Jharkhand’s total land is classified as wasteland, much of which is viable for agroforestry practices. Implementing agroforestry in these areas could sequester 637 tons of carbon annually while generating economic benefits for local populations and contributing to carbon emission reduction efforts. Given Jharkhand’s abundant high-potential land, the study emphasizes the need for village-level agroforestry adoption as a priority. It also calls for policy attention and investment to support agroforestry expansion, which could help achieve 9 out of the 17 SDGs.
Tag: land classification
Site selection for multipurpose trees
Factors related to site selection for planting multipurpose trees are outlined and discussed as well as land classification, land capability classification, the land site index method and land evaluation. “Gaps and present knowledge” and “research needed” are treated jointly in general and with respect to tropical Asia, while “potential applications” are covered in a separate section. Recommendations for regional research in tropical Asia are: (1) systematic assembly of available data; (2) trials along selected environmental gradients and (3) recording of all trial sites on a standardized environmental data base
Redressing forestry hegemony when a forestry regulatory framework is best replaced by an agrarian one
The authors examine some of the social and economic impacts of the forestry bias in state land classification. The maintenance of forest production and environmental services has been the justification from the state for forestland classification, but forest land delineation and gazetting has, at times, significantly restricted smallholder land use and land ownership. This paper explores some of the historical background to the creation of”Permanent Forest Estates” in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. The experience with forest area classification and subsequent encroachments suggests that, in many cases, such areas are domains better placed within a less regulated agrarian framework.