An article in India CSR breaks down how ITC's forestry programmes have not only contributed to the enhancement of green cover across several states, but has also been a significant source of income for rural households. The Social Forestry program greened over 31,000 acres in the past year, spreading across 17 districts in 6 states. To date, the program has covered over 4.56 lakh acres in approximately 7,000 villages, impacting over 1.76 lakh poor households.

Additionally, an Agro-Forestry program spread across 2 lakh acres ensures food, fodder, and wood security for the communities involved. Alongside, the company has also developed fast-growing, high yielding, and disease-resistant hybrid clones and saplings of eucalyptus pulpwood. These clones can grow under varying ecological conditions, thus building resilience and contributing to the increased income for the farming community. The programmes have helped improve pulpwood and fuelwood availability in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha, generating employment for rural households, and contributing meaningfully to the nation's efforts to create additional carbon sinks for tackling climate change.

To know more about the programmes and their benefits in depth, read here :
https://indiacsr.in/itc-social-forestry-program/