Familial Forestry

Familial Forestry is an ecological restoration movement where trees are embraced as living green family members — not just within households, but across educational, communal, and religious institutions. It extends beyond tree planting to foster a profound ecological sense, integrate conservation activities, and respond sensitively to local ecosystem needs through the HEAR process — Habitat Evaluation, Eco-restoration Actions, and Responsibility — embedded in the principle of Holistic Habitat Healing. Familial Forestry transforms restoration into a cultural tradition, reconnecting society and environment into one thriving, resilient whole.

Our Vision

To cultivate a culture where environmental stewardship is an integral part of family, education, community, and spiritual life, leading to widespread eco-restoration and climate resilience across landscapes and societies.

Our Mission

Our mission is to heal habitats, strengthen communities, and inspire global ecological consciousness through native tree adoption and community-driven eco-restoration.

Institutional Forests

Explore how Familial Forestry transforms educational, governmental, and religious institutions into thriving forests — growing future generations and regenerating nature.

Public Nursery

Discover our network of community nurseries providing free native saplings and spreading green wisdom to empower families, schools, villages, and spiritual institutions.

Agroforestry

Familial Forestry promotes sustainable agroforestry models that blend agriculture and forestry, ensuring better livelihoods, food security, and environmental resilience.

Holistic Habitat Healing

Holistic Habitat Healing empowers families and communities to restore ecosystems through mindful care, deep-rooted connection, and sustainable living.

Impact in Numbers

Familial Forestry has made significant strides across regions, communities, and institutions. Here are some key milestones that demonstrate our commitment to ecological restoration and community-driven change.

Families engaged
1 M+
Villages Covered
0 +
Institutional Forests Developed
0 +
Saplings Planted
1 M+
Students Involved
0 M+

UN’s Land For Life Award to Familial Forestry

 Familial Forestry is proud to be recognised with the prestigious UN’s Land for Life Award, acknowledging our dedication to sustainable land management, community-driven restoration, and our global impact. Watch the award ceremony video and see how our commitment to holistic habitat healing has earned us this honour.

Founder's Message

हरित प्रणाम- Green Greetings 
At Familial Forestry, we believe healing the Earth begins with healing our relationship with nature. By embracing trees as green members of families, schools, villages- cities and temples, and entwining them with culture we rebuild the bond between society and the environment. Familial Forestry is not merely about planting trees — it is about nurturing a culture of care, eco-restoration, and ecological wisdom, ensuring that every action responds to the true demands of our ecosystems. Together, through Holistic Habitat Healing, we are sowing seeds of a resilient, greener future.

ShyamSunder Jyani
UN’s Land For Life Award laureate,
Associate Professor of Sociology
Govt. Dungar Collage, Bikaner, Rajasthan

Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it! Hear from those who have experienced the transformational power of Familial Forestry. 

Mr. Ashok Gehlot Honorable former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, India

Congratulations to Sh. Shyam Sunder Jyani, Associate Professor at Dungar College Bikaner, selected for prestigious Land for Life Award 2021 by UNCCD. It’s for his unique concept of Familial Forestry of Rajasthan that

Mrs. Sarah Banda-Genchev Program Coordinator, Land For Life Program, UNCCD, Bon, Germany

Excited and looking forward to supporting your efforts Professor ShyamSunder Jyani as we restore degraded lands. The concept of trees being family members is just amazing and easy to replicate .

Dr Musonda Xoliswa Mumba Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands

As I am about to leave UNCCD’s COP15 my highlight is meeting this incredible & extraordinary man, Prof. Jyani who started an initiative of encouraging each family to plant a tree & embrace it as a green family member. 3.5M trees planted across his region.

Mrs. Vasundhara Raje Honorable former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, India

डूंगर कॉलेज बीकानेर के प्रोफ़ेसर श्यामसुंदर ज्याणी जी को UN द्वारा भूमि संरक्षण हेतु प्रदत्त दुनिया के सबसे बड़े पुरस्कार Land For Life Award-2021 के लिए चुना जाना गर्व का विषय है। पर्यावरण संरक्षण के क्षेत्र में मिले इस उत्कृष्ट सम्मान के लिए मैं उन्हें शुभकामनाएं देती हूं।

MONGABAY International News & Media Website

Familial Forestry: trees planted on family land or in public places and adopted as ‘green members’ of the family. Professor Shyam Sunder Jyani has been using this method to spearhead greening in #Rajasthan for the last 18 yrs.

“Each green member we plant is a promise — a promise to future generations, to our communities, and to the Earth we call home.”
— Prof. ShyamSunder Jyani

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