Abstract

Deforestation, ecosystem degradation and land conversion have important consequences on the environment (biodiversity, climate) and for local populations. Agricultural expansion and fuelwood harvests are among the main drivers of these phenomena. Could rural electrification, through its effect on agriculture, households and energy source choices, have an impact on land-use change and forest cover? Theoretically, the effects of electrification on land use and forests are ambiguous, and very few studies have investigated this issue. To bring more evidence on this question, we study the effects of the RGGVY electrification program that was deployed in India between 2005 and 2014 in close to 300,000 villages. Our first results suggest that this program benefited agricultural production, and may have had a protective effect on forests.

Practical information