The “School Thik Karo” campaign by CJP has brought attention to the need for better school infrastructure and facilities. Alongside improving buildings, classrooms and basic amenities, schools can also explore an often-overlooked opportunity: using boundary plantation to create a future source of income.

Tree plantation is generally viewed as an environmental activity. But when planned properly, suitable trees planted along school boundaries can become a green financial asset while providing shade, greenery and environmental benefits.

Can School Trees Generate Income?

Yes. There is already evidence from Indian educational institutions that mature trees on school premises can be commercially valuable.

In January 2026, J&K Sainik School Manasbal issued an official auction notice for trees located on its campus. The notice specified that harvested logs would be weighed and that the successful bidder would deposit the cost of the logs into the School accounts as the timber was removed.

Official Sainik School Manasbal auction notice

There is also evidence of the wider Sainik School system auctioning 241 eucalyptus trees in Jammu, showing that mature eucalyptus trees associated with educational institutions can be treated as commercially valuable assets.

The Centre for Science and Environment has also documented the role of the Haryana Forest Development Corporation in harvesting and marketing wood from institutional locations, including schools and colleges.

CSE report on forest productivity and timber

These examples demonstrate that school and institutional trees do not have to be viewed only as landscaping.

India’s Agroforestry Model Already Provides the Blueprint

Boundary plantation of poplar and eucalyptus is already a well-established practice in Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh.

A study by researchers associated with Punjab Agricultural University examined the economics of poplar and eucalyptus boundary plantations and found the practice financially viable under the conditions studied.

PAU study on boundary plantation economics

The same concept can be adapted to suitable school campuses.

Instead of leaving the boundary area unused, schools can develop a planned plantation:

Plant → Maintain → Monitor → Grow → Harvest → Generate income → Replant

The objective should not be to turn schools into commercial farms. Rather, a portion of suitable boundary space can be designed as a 3–4 year green-asset programme, where fast-growing and locally suitable species are evaluated for biomass, poles or other permitted uses.

The exact species and harvesting period should depend on local climate, soil, regulations and market conditions.

From Tree Plantation to a Measurable Asset

A school can maintain a simple digital Tree Asset Register recording:

• Number of trees planted
• Species
• Plantation date
• Location
• Survival rate
• Growth
• Estimated biomass/value
• Harvest or maintenance status

This transforms tree plantation from a one-day activity into a measurable programme.

Students can also participate in tree mapping, growth measurement, biodiversity monitoring and carbon-related projects. The plantation therefore becomes both an educational resource and a potential financial asset.

Where TreeKisan Can Help

This is where TreeKisan can support schools.

TreeKisan can help institutions move from simply planting trees to planning and monitoring the complete plantation lifecycle to selling of Trees:

The model should plant Poplar , Ecualyptus clone for best rate at minimum time period. Safety around buildings, playgrounds, roads and electrical infrastructure must also be considered.

A New Question for School Improvement

School improvement campaigns should not only ask:

How many trees did we plant?

They should also ask:

How many trees survived, how much did they grow, and what value did they create for the school?

The evidence from Indian educational institutions shows that mature school trees can have real commercial value.

A well-planned 3–4 year Green Asset programme can therefore complement school improvement efforts by combining green infrastructure, environmental education and potential income generation.

TreeKisan can help schools make this process measurable, transparent and easier to manage—from plantation to future value creation.