Data for Decades of tree planting in Northern India had little effect on forest canopy cover and rural livelihoods

Abstract

This contains data from three sources: 1. Remote sensing-based analysis of land cover and land use change in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India, with a focus on government run tree plantations we mapped in the region that had occurred between 1980 and 2018, were located in 60 randomly sampled panchayats (local governments), and were at least 5 HA in size. We also have supplemental information on these plantations provided by the local informants who helped map them (e.g. such as the date of establishment and the involvement of local communities in planting them) 2. A survey of Panchayat characteristics across 60 randomly sampled panchayats in Kangra District 3. A random sample survey of 40 households in each of the 60 panchayats, focusing on household livelihood needs and their relationship to forests and tree plantations in terms of both livelihood related uses (e.g. fuelwood, fodder, and grazing) and forest governance. Viewing these data sources together enable us to understand the relationships between land use change as driven by government plantations, local governance, and livelihoods.