TOFI is a massive afforestation program sponsored by US AID through the Indian Ministry of Forests, Environment & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in seven states – Rajasthan, Haryana, Utttar Pradesh, Assam, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. World Agro Forestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF) has conceived this project and implementing in Tamil Nadu with support from ATREE, CAFRI, NIAP, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) etc.,
Apart from increasing the Tree cover, TOFI Program is implemented to improve the livelihood of Indian farmers who have less access to finance and irrigation facilities.
As a prime part of this program, TOFI Master Tree Trainers were selected from Tree enthusiast applicants from Coimbatore and neighboring districts and trained at TNAU’s Forest College & Research Institute (FC&RI) at Mettupalayam from June 1 to 5, 2024. These Master Trainers are to take the next level of training in Tree cultivation in farm lands so that the Forest cover of the country gets strengthened. Coimbatore, Pudukkottai and Viluppuram are the three districts selected under TOFI scheme in Tamil Nadu. The author of this literature, DR. Jayaprakash. C.R was one of the trainees and got the certification to conduct step down trainings from August 2023.
First training was conducted at Redwoods Organic Farm (TNOCDS 884/2017), Thadagam on August 25, 2024. 80 participants from Tamil Nadu participated in this event. Second training was conducted at Kumaraguru Institutions, Saravanampatty, Coimbatore with the participation of 55 members. The event was supported by Young Indians (Yi) on September 8, 2024.
The forest cover of India ranges around 22% of the land mass. It needs to be increased to 33% to mitigate Climate Change. But, Indian Forests are almost preserved with a healthy gene pool of bio diversity under the direct control of the Government. No felling is allowed inside these forests and hence they remain intact and gets naturally regenerated. This has resulted in a plan called Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI), to increase the Green cover in farm lands.
Here are few learnings and teachings from the above three events:
Farmers will be guided by Master Trainers of TOFI and the implementing agencies are seriously working on this project to compensate the farmers through Carbon Credit programs and matured tree marketing to the industrial sector. In Tamil Nadu, the tree cover in 2023 is 23.7% as per State Planning Commission. Hence extra 10% needs to be realised by raising trees outside forests.
CARBON SINK, CARBON CREDIT, CARBON EXCHANGE, CARBON NEUTRAL, CARBON SEQUESTRATION: Trees are known as Carbon sink because they absorb the Carbon Di-Oxide and emit Oxygen. This results in Climate cooling. Reduction of CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen leads to a safer storage of Carbon in the form of wood. Hence wood, trees or biomass are considered to be the saviors of earth from Global warming, rather Global Boiling.
Tree/Wood can be scientifically defined as a combination of Lignin, Cellulose and bio-mass. Wood contains 50% carbon, 42% oxygen, 6% hydrogen, 1% each in Nitrogen and mineral matters. Trees consume 3.67 kgs of CO2 to produce a kg of Carbon. Hence we need more and more trees to reduce the excessive Carbon foot prints.
The paper consumption of India was just 2 kgs per person in 1950. It rose to 6 kgs(1960), 8 kgs(1980) and now it has scaled upto 15 kgs/person in a year. The population too has increased leading to a consumption spree. But we aren’t getting enough trees to convert them into a paper. Hence large scale imports are made.
To feed the burgeoning need of Indian Industries we are in need of 152 million metric tonnes of wood. Trees along with wood, gives us fruits and oil. Hence, Tree based industries are experiencing a boom in these days of Global boiling.
Quality saplings are a must for raising yielding tree farms. Hence TOFI program is coming up with a high tech nursery at Cudallore with an investment of Rs.1.5 crores. Further two more large scale nurseries are to be established/upgraded in Dharmapuri and Cudallore.
TOFI is also involved in the process of auditing and certifying quality nurseries in the country.
TNAU’s Wood based incubation centre at Forest College and Research Institute ( FC & RI) in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore stands tall as India’s pioneer Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) in this sector. It is also examining the quality of trees to suit the pulp, plywood, bricket, furniture, pencil, handicrafts and other industries.
Though cities like Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur boast of massive tree plantation drives, these three are in the top three list of places having abundant barren lands in Tamil Nadu. Hence the TOFI program plans to reach atleast 238 villages in Coimbatore within 2024.
Tree ambulances likely to be launched to maintain good health of trees.
Tree loans and Tree Insurances are to be improved.
Tree based financial linkage is being worked out with NABARD to support new farmers to venture into Agro Forestry.
Punjab farmers who ventured into Tree cultivation in a similar Carbon Exchange program have received their first installment of Rs.1.75 crore as Carbon credit compensation. 3.686 farmers from Hoshiapur, Rpoar, Mohali, Pathankot and Nawanshar have registered in this Rs. 45 crores pilot project. Punjab has just 6.6 % of its land under forest cover. Hence agro forestry is promoted in a big way.
From 2029 all aviation fuel should have atleast 1% blend of bio fuels, ie Tree based oils. Hence there is a high demand for Pongamia pinnata (Pungan) trees. Hence Mangalore Refineries and Indian Oil Corporation are scouting for oil seed trees in India.
Australia is likely to become the largest exporter of Sandalwood in future. Though India is a bigger user of sandal, restriction on harvesting and sales of scheduled trees have crippled our tree growing prospects. Hence governments are also simplifying the tree cutting and marketing procedures. Wood Certification Scheme is promoted by Union Ministry of Energy under Athma Nirbhar Scheme.
Carbon Credits are promoted both under Compliance and Voluntary basis in India. Compliance mechanism takes time since auditing and certification process are getting streamlined only in recent years.
Since wood contains carbon, future housing projects will be permitted with a considerable level of wood involved in its production and usage. Already in Australia, it has been made mandatory to use a maximum percentage of wood in new constructions. Soon the world, including Indians are to follow this. Hence the demand for trees in future is to increase in multi folds.
Nature Based Solutions are coming back to the driving seat.
An ideal mature tree should have around 70% of heart wood and 30% sap wood. Heart wood is the dead and compressed wood found in the xylem region.
Humans are valued for white skin but trees are valued for their dark texture.
An ideally seasoned wood should contain 12% or lesser content of moisture in it.
Tree Certification and Carbon Trading is coming up in a big way.
Tree Developments in Coimbatore
Swietenia mahogani (Mahogany), Melia dubea (Malai Vembu), Gmelina arborea (White, Kumil Teak), Anthocephalus cadamba (White Cadamba) Tectona grandis (Teak) Dalbergia latifolia (Rosewood) are ideal trees for Coimbatore district which are sought by industries.
Native trees like Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack fruit), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Ceiba pentandra (Mull Ilavampanju), Mangifera indica (Mango), Pithocellobium (Sweet tamarind), Tamarindus inducus (Tamarind) and Syzigium cumini (Jamun) are some of the popular fruit bearing trees which thrive well under Coimbatore’s moderately irrigated farms.
Apart from Carbon credits and sales of the tree barks to industries, this industrial town requires tonnes of these fruits for its local consumption. Hence it is a wise strategy to go for multi crop, integrated farming in the mini cosmopolite – Coimbatore.
An 140 acre farm in Bolampatty Valley, adjoining ISHA is growing Cadamba trees which are likely to be used for manufacturing Cricket bats or Pencils.
An ice cream spoon making unit is sourcing ideal wood from an Annur farm. They find it cheaper than the cheapest China import in this category.
More to come based on future learning’s…
TO CONSERVE THE EARTH THROUGH CULTIVATION OF TREES OUTSIDE THE FOREST…
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