India, Aug. 17 -- The state is chalking out a new forest conservation policy that will allow the government to lease private agricultural land for tree plantation, thereby increasing forest cover from 19% at present to a projected 33%, and to reduce man-animal conflict. The policy also allows farmers to lease agricultural land near forests for eco-tourism projects on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

The proposal, moved by the state agriculture department, has sought synergies between the forest and revenue departments. The policy, known as 'Chief Minister Forest and Environment Conservation Scheme', proposes to increase the tiger corridor outside the forest buffer zone. It will also encourage changes in crop patterns to help env...