TREESCAPES 2026 to Host South Asia’s First Congress Dedicated to Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests

In a major push to mainstream agroforestry across the region, the Centre for International Forestry Research–International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will host TREESCAPES 2026, the first South Asian Agroforestry & Trees Outside Forests (TOF) Congress, from February 5 to 7, 2026, at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Pusa Campus, New Delhi.

Billed as a landmark regional platform, the three-day congress aims to position agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests as scalable, mainstream solutions for climate-resilient landscapes, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth across South Asia. Policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, civil society organisations, farmers and youth from across the region are expected to participate.

The event will be held in the presence of several dignitaries, including Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nepal’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Madan Prasad Pariyar, Maldives’ Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Welfare Ahmed Hassan Didi, and Haryana’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife Rao Narbir Singh.

Highlighting the urgency of scaling agroforestry, Manoj Dabas, India Country Director, CIFOR-ICRAF, said tree-based systems already account for nearly 19.3% of India’s carbon stocks and could help abate over 2 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030. He noted that with over 86% of Indian farmers classified as marginal, aligning carbon finance, policy frameworks and locally adapted agroforestry practices is critical. India’s growing dependence on wood imports—over USD 7 billion annually—also underscores the need to strengthen domestic tree-based production systems.

TREESCAPES 2026 will focus on addressing policy, regulatory and institutional gaps through thematic sessions on digital tools, water-secure landscapes, farmer-led innovation, financing, certification, value chains, carbon markets, seed systems, bioeconomy opportunities, and ecosystem services.

According to the FAO’s State of Food and Agriculture 2025, nearly 1.7 billion people globally live in regions affected by declining crop yields due to land degradation. Studies show agroforestry’s role in reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, while ICAR research confirms its ability to sequester significant carbon without compromising food production.

Jointly organised by CIFOR-ICRAF and ICAR, with partners including CAFRI, NABARD and IIFM, TREESCAPES 2026 positions itself as a pivotal platform supporting India’s climate commitments and 2070 net-zero goals, while enhancing farmers’ incomes and rural resilience.