Starting 2009, CCS consistently campaigned for reforms in bamboo regulations in India through its Bamboo is Not a Tree campaign, presenting regulatory reform recommendations to 13 concerned Central Ministries. In 2017, in a big win for bamboo-based livelihoods in India and for us at CCS, the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance changed the classification of non-forest bamboo from 'tree' to 'grass'.

This simple change in classification meant that bamboo could be freely produced and transported. Bamboo-based livelihoods continue to be marred by overlapping and confounding legislations of the Indian Forest Act and Forest Rights Act. Post the Ordinance, CCS has offered insights on growing India's bamboo sector and supporting bamboo-based livelihoods.