Plantation forestry in Kerala has rich history dating back to the colonial period when large-scale plantations of cash crops like tea, coffee, rubber and spices were established, transforming the landscape and serving the economic interests of the colonial administration. After independence, the focus shifted to meeting the demand for timber and wood products, leading to the promotion of fast-growing timber species on degraded lands by the state government and various organizations. These efforts helped reduce pressure on natural forests and contributed to the local economy.
During the colonial era and post independence, forest management in Kerala prioritized supplying raw materials to forest-based industries, leading to the establishment of industrial plantations with species like Acacia mangium, Acacia aurticuliformis, Eucalyptus and Tropical pines. However, these monoculture plantations had adverse ecological impacts, including invasiveness and disruption of sensitive ecosystems. With changing priorities, forest policies shifted towards biodiversity conservation and the focus now includes addressing climate change and improving hydrological services.
In recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on sustainable plantation forestry in Kerala, focusing on agro forestry, ecological restoration and conservation. Efforts are being made to integrate traditional practices with modern techniques to enhance productivity while conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. The state is phasing out exotic plantations and restoring them to natural forests to enhance environmental benefits such as maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, water purification, carbon storage and habitat for various species.