India is one of the most populous countries having only 19.5 per cent forest cover which needs to be improved up to 33 per cent for ensuring environmental stability. Rejuvenation, conservation and maintenance of the natural resources are the prior essentialities of coming India. To overcome such emerging issues, Ministry of Environment and Forests adapted a Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guaranty Scheme (MREGS) since, 2005. Gradually this programme enhances livelihood security of rural poor by creating durable assets. This article tries to over view plantation activities and its impact on rural livelihood. In accordance with the prior recommendations of NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), afforestation and various tree plantation activities were amended into schedule-I. It would become helpful to generate awareness towards greening India campaign. Also, strengthens the long term challenges regarding eco-restoration and regeneration of natural resources.

Neolamarkia cadamba (Roxb.) is a fast growing species recognized as a raw material for match wood industry, pulp wood, plywood industry. Seeds from thirty CPTs of Neolamarkia cadamba across the India were collected and evaluated in nursery for various growth and variability parameters. Significant variation was recorded for shoot length, root length, collar diameter, root shoot ratio, biomass production, sturdiness quotient, volume index and quality index among 30 genotypes. FCRIAC 6 (Pantnagar), have outperformed in seven growth parameters studied, followed by FCRIAC 11 (Chandrapur), FCRIAC 19 (Ragihosalli), FCRIAC 20 (Kodigehalli), FCRIAC 26 (Nashik) performing better in six growth parameters. Shoot length, biomass production and volume index registered high genetic estimates. Heritability was high for all the growth characters. PCV values were slightly higher for all the parameters compared to GCV. Collar diameter, shoot length and root length positively and significantly correlated with biomass, volume index, sturdiness quotient and quality index both genotypically and phenotypically. These results will assist in early selection of good performing and fast growing genotype for raising plantations as well as during further investigation in field trials.

Anthocephalus cadamba is an important tree species for pulp and paper industry. Anatomical studies were conducted between trees of different age viz., 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 were selected from different plantation. One plus tree from each age was felled for the study. The transverse discs of 10 cm thickness were collected from three different heights of tree representing base, middle and top positions. Anatomical properties like Fibre Length, Fibre Diameter, Fibre Lumen Width, Fibre Wall Thickness, Flexibility, Slenderness ratio, Runkel ratio, Vessel Length, Vessel Diameter, Vessel Area, Vessel Frequency, Ray Height, Ray Width and Ray Frequency were studied. Present study revealed that the average Runkel ratio of Anthocephalus cadamba was 0.48; hence it is suitable for pulp and paper production. Fibre length at the ages of 6, 8 and 10 were at par. Fibre wall thickness were not significantly different at 2, 4, 6 and 8 age but 10 years of age fibre wall thickness differed significantly from other five different ages. Fibre diameter, fibre lumen width and slenderness were at par for all the five ages. Flexibility was at par in the ages of 2, 4, 6, and 8. Best practice of harvesting Anthocephalus cadamba would be at the age of six. Ray and vessel morphology did not show any specific trend from two to ten years old tree.