Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands through Agroforestry Systems at Rajasthan and Odisha, India

A noticeable improvement in vegetation cover was seen, both in species diversity and biomass, and in hydrological parameters. Biomass (type and amount) and vegetation index were significantly higher in rehabilitated fields with mixed vegetation (trees, shrubs and grasses), whereas control fields had scrubby vegetation/grasses. Communities living downstream have also benefitted from improved water availability. For example, Udaipur has adopted sugarcane cultivation, while Bhilwara is now intercropping orange trees with wheat.