Two-thirds of India's Rajasthan state is desert or barren, arid land. Rajasthan is thus referred to as the "Desert State." Only nine percent of Rajasthan is covered by forest, or less than half of India's national average. In 1952, India began an afforestation plan to cover one-third of the country with forests. The success of this plan is said to depend on the success of projects to bring trees to Rajasthan.

The Aravalli Afforestation Project is one of Japan's afforestation projects in Rajasthan (loan assistance in FY1994). Under this project, trees are being planted in 115,000 hectares in the Aravalli mountain region. By planting trees with the participation of the local population, this project is designed to halt desertification, and also produce timber, animal feed, and fruit, thereby contributing to development of the local economy. A particular feature of the Aravalli project is that of "social forestry," in which the local residents participate in planning and in planting the trees. A forestry protection committee has been established in each village to organize the residents. Moreover, detailed socioeconomic surveys and surveys of resident expectations have been carried out; micro-planning is being performed to compile an afforestation plan. The project will create jobs for 42 million people over the course of the project. Intermediate products such as fallen timber, pasturage, feed from leaves and branches, and fruit will be entirely the property of the local residents, while final products such as firewood, lumber, and bamboo will be split equally between the Department of Forestry and the residents. Local NGO's are also involved; they are supporting village residents in forestry management.

Residents participating in afforestation.