Three reasons for starting various social forestry programmes in India are as follows:
1. To reduce pressure on the traditional forests by developing plantations of fuel wood, fodder and grasses.
2. For the afforestation of barren lands, aimed at helping in environmental and social and rural development.
3. Community forestry involves the raising of trees on public or community lands aimed at providing benefit to the community as a whole. The protection of the plantation is primarily the responsibility of the community as a whole.