According to the National Forest Policy 1988, one – third of the geographical area of the country should be maintained as forest. But Gujarat has only 9.69% of its geographical area declared as forest. More than 60% of the population resides in the rural area, which is directly dependent on forest resources for their fuelwood, fodder, small timber for the agriculture and other requirements. Due to these reasons, regeneration, maintaining the productivity level and sustainability of the non-forest lands, particularly the common lands has become imperative for the state for a continuous supply of rural needs. Promotion of tree planting on non forest land, through Social Forestry programme has, therefore, been considered to be the only answer to improve the green cover in Gujarat state. With this background, as early as 1969-70, Gujarat Forest Department launched a “Social Forestry Programme” for planting trees on non-forest lands and became a pioneer and leading state in this field.