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Is There a Trade-Off between Forest Expansion and Agriculture? Evidence from India

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  • Vikrant K. Kamble
  • Dylan Brewer
  • Matthew E. Oliver

Abstract

Expanding forest areas through afforestation and reforestation is a popular strategy to mitigate climate change. However, the vast land area needed suggests a potentially large trade-off between forest expansion and agriculture. From 2003 to 2010, one of the largest forest expansion programs in India was implemented in Rajasthan state. We estimate the effects of this program on the agricultural sector using two-way fixed effects and synthetic difference-in-differences approaches, finding that it had no impact on the cultivated area in Rajasthan. Moreover, agricultural production and yield increased following the program’s implementation. We discuss implications for afforestation and reforestation as climate mitigation strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Vikrant K. Kamble & Dylan Brewer & Matthew E. Oliver, 2025. "Is There a Trade-Off between Forest Expansion and Agriculture? Evidence from India," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 101(3), pages 304-329.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:101:y:2025:i:3:p:304-329
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/le.101.3.022924-0020R
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q13 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; Agribusiness
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment

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