A method implemented by a network device in a network including a plurality of network devices, the method to implement multicast forwarding configuration resulting in reduced state for the network by utilizing unicast tunneling between a network device identified as root, network devices identified as replication points and network devices identified as leaves that implement each a multicast distribution tree, the method comprising: selecting a multicast group, from multicast groups present in the network, for which the multicast forwarding configuration has to be determined; in order to generate for the selected multicast group, a multicast distribution tree, referred to as a source group tree, pruning all branches, of a shortest path tree rooted at a source node for the selected multicast group, that do not lead to at least one leaf for the selected multicast group; wherein the shortest path tree provides a route to all nodes in the network, but not all the nodes in the network belong to the selected multicast group; determining , by the network device, whether the network device is a root or a replication node for the source group tree; when the network device is a replication node for the source group tree, selecting a branch for which the network device is a replication node, wherein the branch is selected from a set of branches in the source group tree; checking whether a downstream leaf or replicating node is adjacent to the network device along the selected branch; and wherein when the network device along the selected branch does not have an adjacent downstream replication node or leaf, identifying the next replicating node or leaf on the selected branch; wherein the identification of the next leaf or replicating node is determined by traversing the selected branch, and configuring the network device to forward multicast group traffic to the identified replicating node or leaf using a unicast tunnel. selecting a multicast group, from multicast groups present in the network, for which the multicast forwarding configuration has to be determined; in order to generate for the selected multicast group, a multicast distribution tree, referred to as a source group tree, pruning all branches, of a shortest path tree rooted at a source node for the selected multicast group, that do not lead to at least one leaf for the selected multicast group; wherein the shortest path tree provides a route to all nodes in the network, but not all the nodes in the network belong to the selected multicast group; determining , by the network device, whether the network device is a root or a replication node for the source group tree; when the network device is a replication node for the source group tree, selecting a branch for which the network device is a replication node, wherein the branch is selected from a set of branches in the source group tree; checking whether a downstream leaf or replicating node is adjacent to the network device along the selected branch; and wherein when the network device along the selected branch does not have an adjacent downstream replication node or leaf, identifying the next replicating node or leaf on the selected branch; wherein the identification of the next leaf or replicating node is determined by traversing the selected branch, and configuring the network device to forward multicast group traffic to the identified replicating node or leaf using a unicast tunnel. downstream replication node or leaf, identifying the next replicating node or leaf on the selected branch; wherein the identification of the next leaf or replicating node is determined by traversing the selected branch, and wherein the identification of the next leaf or replicating node is determined by traversing the selected branch, and configuring the network device to forward multicast group traffic to the identified replicating node or leaf using a unicast tunnel. <EOS>