Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Policy innovations through agroforestry transitions in Bundelkhand, India: A systems approach to land restoration and planetary health

¹Member, Indian Forest Service, India
²Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Agricultural Extension and Information System, Bangladesh

Abstract

Land degradation, erratic rainfall, and agrarian distress have made Bundelkhand a microcosm of the dryland crisis in India. Yet, recent agroforestry transitions in this semi-arid region offer compelling policy insights for reconciling land-use change with the imperatives of planetary health. This study critically examines the policy architecture, institutional mechanisms, and implementation dynamics that have enabled agroforestry to emerge as a credible land restoration strategy in Bundelkhand, with positive outcomes for ecosystems, rural livelihoods, and regional climate resilience.

The research draws on a mixed-methods approach involving spatial analysis of agroforestry expansion, evaluation of multi-tier programmatic linkages (SMAF, MGNREGS, PMKSY), and field-based policy ethnography in three agro-climatic zones of Bundelkhand. The study identifies enabling factors such as flexible fund convergence, decentralised decision-making, and community forestry traditions that enhance policy responsiveness and uptake. Equally, it highlights challenges including land tenure ambiguities, fragmented extension services, and misaligned incentives that hinder scalability.

By framing agroforestry not merely as a land-use change but as a governance innovation, the paper positions Bundelkhand’s experience as a replicable model for dryland regions across the Global South. The findings offer three core policy propositions:

1. Embed agroforestry in state climate action plans and SDG-linked development missions to leverage cross-sectoral synergy.
2. Establish adaptive policy platforms that promote iterative learning, co-financing, and ecosystem service-based incentives.
3. Strengthen landscape governance institutions that bridge formal policy structures with Indigenous land stewardship and knowledge systems.

This policy-driven analysis makes a strong case for agroforestry as a linchpin in transforming land systems to serve both human well-being and planetary health, making it highly relevant for global discussions on sustainable agri-food transitions.

Keywords: Agroecological Transitions, Dryland Resilience, planetary health, Programmatic Integration

Contact Address: Rajesh S Kumar, Member, Indian Forest Service, T C 43 1054 s. N nagar manacaud post kamaleswaram, 695009 Thiruvananthapuram, India, e-mail: rskumarifsgmail.com