Trees

124K trees to be cut for MP rail project; environmentalists raise alarm

At least 1.24 lakh trees are likely to be felled on a section passing through dense forests to clear the way for the construction of the railway's Mhow-Khandwa gauge conversion project in Madhya Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday. Under this crucial project, the railway's historic narrow-gauge line is being converted into a broad-gauge line, they said. The new railway line will reduce the distance between Indore, the economic capital of Madhya Pradesh, and Mumbai, the country's financial capital, and will also strengthen western MP's connectivity with south India, the officials said. Environmentalists have warned of the adverse impact of tree felling for the railway line, even as the forest department said it has prepared a detailed mitigation plan. "As many as 1.41 lakh trees are estimated to be affected in the dense forests of Indore and Khargone districts for the construction of the Mhow-Sanawad section of the railway's Mhow-Khandwa gauge conversion project," Indore's Division

Govt links green credits for tree plantation to survival, canopy cover

The government has replaced the system of awarding green credits immediately based on the number of trees planted with granting credits after five years of restoration of degraded forest land, once 40 per cent canopy cover is achieved. The environment ministry revised the methodology for calculating green credits for tree plantation, first notified on February 22, 2024, through a new notification issued on August 29. The credits are rewarded under the Green Credit Programme. Green credits are rewards given for taking voluntary steps to protect the environment. Individuals, communities and companies can earn them through activities like planting trees, restoring mangroves, saving water, practising sustainable farming or managing waste in an eco-friendly way. Under the new system, credits will be awarded only after a minimum of five years of restoration work and once the land achieves at least 40 per cent canopy density. One credit will be given for each new tree that has survived ...

India planted 178K hectares in 2019-2023; gaps in fund use: Report

India raised 1,78,261 hectares of compensatory afforestation against a target of 2,09,297 hectares between 2019-20 and 2023-24, achieving 85 per cent of the planned area, the Supreme Court-mandated Central Empowered Committee has said in a report. The report filed earlier this month revealed that utilisation of funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) varies sharply across states. According to the report, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh recorded full achievement of their targets. Madhya Pradesh planted 21,746.82 hectares, fully achieving its target of 21,107.68 hectares. Karnataka also met nearly its entire target, covering 2,761.26 hectares against 2,775.12 hectares. Arunachal Pradesh planted 20,719.46 hectares against 21,478.03 hectares, achieving 96.6 per cent. Uttar Pradesh reported 96.4 per cent achievement, planting 5,877.16 hectares against 6,096.7 hectares. Assam covered 1,149.64 hectares against 1,191.82 ...

UP govt to plant 3.7 mn saplings, create green zones at 6K cow shelters

The Uttar Pradesh government is targeting to plant over 37 crore saplings through the Paudhropan Mahabhiyan-2025, according to a statement issued here on Saturday. It said the government will also establish special green zones called Gopal Van in all cow shelters across the state. These green zones will feature shady and fodder-rich plant species to support cattle welfare. Saints and cowherds have extended their support to the initiative. The government said around 52.43 crore saplings have been kept ready for the Paudhropan Mahabhiyan 2025. Of these, 37 crore saplings will be planted across the state in a single campaign. Since 2017, a total of 204.92 crore saplings have been planted in Uttar Pradesh. As a result, the state is now ranked second in the country in terms of green cover, the statement claimed. Meanwhile, Gopal Van will be established in 6,613 temporary cow shelters across rural Uttar Pradesh, 387 large cow conservation centres, 305 Kanji houses, and 303 Kanha Gau Ashr

Centre issues model rules to ease tree felling on farms, boost agroforestry

The Centre has issued model rules for the felling of trees on agricultural land in a bid to promote agroforestry with the aim of doubling farmers' incomes, increasing tree cover outside forests and mitigating climate change. In a letter sent to all state governments on June 19, the environment ministry said the objective of 'Model Rules for Felling of Trees in Agricultural Lands' is to enhance the ease of doing business in agroforestry and incentivise farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems without facing undue procedural hurdles. The government has been promoting agroforestry to double farmers' income, enhance tree cover outside forests, mitigate climate change, reduce timber imports and ensure sustainable land use. It also supports India's climate goals under the Paris Agreement. A key barrier is the lack of clear, harmonised rules for felling trees on agricultural land which affects cultivation and marketing of agroforestry produce, according to the ...

SC holds DDA in contempt over tree felling in Ridge, orders afforestation

The Supreme Court on Wednesday held Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials guilty of contempt for tree felling in the capital's Ridge area for widening a road and ordered extensive afforestation. The court, however, noted that there was no malafide intent. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the verdict on contempt plea alleging violation of the 1996 and March 4, 2024, ban on tree felling and deliberate non-compliance of orders on the part of the Delhi LG and IAS officer Subhasish Panda as DDA chairman and vice-chairman respectively. The bench said the case falls in the category of "administrative misjudgement" and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on DDA officials. It spared the DDA chairman and vice-chairman. The top court also asked the DDA to impose a one-time levy on affluent persons residing in the Ridge area who benefitted from the widening of the road. It also formed a three-member committee to oversee the extensive afforestation plan and directed the

BJP turning Maha into desert: Aaditya slams govt over nod to projects

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday targeted the Devendra Fadnavis-led government for clearing projects that require felling of "lakhs of trees", including for the proposed Gargai dam to be built for supplying water to Mumbai. Addressing a press conference, he hit out at the ruling BJP and said the party wants to turn Maharashtra into a desert. "Never ever has the city (Mumbai) witnessed a water crisis in March and April which is being experienced this year. Temperatures are rising across the state, crossing over 40 degrees Celsius in March and April," Thackeray said, and attributed it to climate change. "The State Wildlife Board has given approval to projects which will lead to felling of lakhs of trees. Permission has been given to cut five lakh trees in Thane and Palghar district for constructing Gargai dam to address water woes of Mumbai...The BJP wants to make Maharashtra a desert," the former state environment minister said. If the need arises, the Sena (UBT) .

210 cr trees planted in 8 years, state's forest cover has increased: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said 210 crore trees were planted across the state in the last eight years, leading to a significant increase in forest cover despite rapid urbanisation and industrial growth. Speaking at the National Conference on the National Clean Air Programme here, he emphasised the importance of ensuring the survival of these trees. The government, he said, has engaged the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, Uttarakhand and a university in Chhattisgarh for third-party monitoring of plantations. These institutions periodically assess the survival rate and report their findings to the state government. "In last eight years, 210 crore plantations have taken place in the entire state and also ensure their survival," Adityanath told the gathering. The chief minister said nearly 70-75 per cent of the trees planted by state government have survived, while the survival rate of plantations done by private and voluntary organisations stands at

NGT seeks presence of Uttarakhand govt over illegal felling of trees

The NGT has asked the member secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) and the state's principal chief conservator of forests to appear before it in a matter regarding illegal felling of 176 trees in Udham Singh Nagar district. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was hearing a petition on the unauthorised felling of trees during the development of a residential colony by private persons in the district's Chandpur village. In its order dated February 24, a bench of judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said that according to a report submitted by a joint committee that was set up earlier, 176 trees were felled illegally and environmental compensation had to be recovered for it. The committee comprised the district magistrate, the Dehradun regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, and the UKPCB. Taking note of the report, the tribunal sought a response from the Uttarakhand chief secretary and ..

Delhi HC issues notice on plea for tree transplantation in SC premises

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice in response to an Intervention Application (IA) seeking permission for the transplantation of 26 trees within the Supreme Court premises.The trees are part of the ongoing project aimed at expanding the Supreme Court building to create additional courtrooms, including a constitutional court, as well as new chambers for judges and enhanced facilities for lawyers and litigants.The bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh sought responses in the fresh intervention application of respondents in the case Bhavreen Kandhari vs. C.D. Singh & Ors., pending before the Delhi High Court. The next hearing in the matter is January 31, 2025.The Intervention Application (IA), filed and argued by Advocate Sudhir Mishra, explained that during the marking of the layout plan, it was found that approximately 61 trees fell within the building and excavation lines of the proposed expansion area, which covers about 2.03 acres. To minimize the environmental impact, efforts

Yash's Toxic makers get show cause notice for felling trees on forest land

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre said a show cause notice has been issued to the makers of the movie Toxic in connection with the illegally felling trees

Statsguru: India's forest and tree cover at 25.17% of total land area

Forest fire detections saw a considerable drop from the 2020-21 cycle. Odisha and Madhya Pradesh witnessed the bulk of forest fire incidents

India's forest cover rises, but flawed definitions mask biodiversity loss

The Forest Survey of India defines forest as land covering at least one hectare and with a tree cover density of 10 per cent

India's green book: Forest growth decelerates as tree cover rises

India's total forest and tree cover stood at 8,27,357 sq km in 2021-23, representing 25.17 per cent of the country's geographical area

India's green cover rises, now 25.17% of geographical area: Govt report

India's total forest and tree cover has increased by 1,445 sq km since 2021, reaching 25.17 per cent of the total geographical area in 2023, according to the latest government data. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, released on Saturday, said that the country's total forest cover increased from 7,13,789 sq km in 2021 to 7,15,343 sq km in 2023, reaching 21.76 per cent of its geographical area. The tree cover increased by 1,289 sq km and now constitutes 3.41 per cent of the country's geographical area, it said. Together, the forest and tree cover amount to 8,27,357 sq km or 25.17 per cent of India's geographical area. This marks an overall increase of 1,445 sq km from 2021, with forest cover alone rising by 156 sq km. According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), forest cover refers to all land that has a tree canopy density of more than 10 per cent and spans over an area of one hectare or more, regardless of the type of ownership or legal status. This includes natural

'Iconic Trees of India' explores deep-rooted bond between people and trees

One hopes that Natesh's labour of love will inspire numerous state-sponsored and citizen-led initiatives grounded in science to document and conserve India's green living heritage

Hit by cloud burst, about 50,000 trees uprooted in Telangana's forest

In an ecological disaster, an estimated 50,000 trees spread over about 500 acres in the forests of Mulugu district in Telangana were uprooted following a huge gale and a sudden cloud burst. This happened on the night of August 31 because of local climatic conditions that suddenly developed there due to cloud formation, a senior forest official said on Wednesday. "We never saw such an incident in our lives," the official told PTI. With the massive wind and water gushing (in a particular width and length), it has destroyed the forest and big trees have been uprooted, he said. The other reason why the trees got uprooted was that the plants do not develop a very deep root system as moisture and nutrition are easily available for them in the area, he said. In some places, the root system is developed within one foot, he added. Had it been a very deep root system, the damage would have been less, the official said. In some places, the top part was broken as one tree fell on another tre

Delhi forest dept asks transport dept for land for compensatory plantation

Acting on an NGT order, the Delhi Forest Department has asked the Transport Department to hand over 50,895 square metres of land to it and also pay more than Rs 40 lakh to carry out compensatory plantation for trees felled at a cluster bus depot in Burari, according to official documents. The action is part of a broader enforcement effort to ensure environmental regulations are met following the felling and transplantation of trees, officials said. The Forest Department's communication, dated August 23, to the Transport Department follows a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order which directed the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Central) to forfeit the Transport Department's security deposit for non-compliance with the compensatory afforestation requirements. According to the official documents, the Transport Department had been instructed to plant 10 times the number of trees felled or transplanted and to maintain these plantations for seven years. The initial deadline for completion

'Plant trees': Shah launches Rs 1,003 cr development projects in Ahmedabad

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched development projects costing Rs 1,003 crore in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city and appealed to the people to join the nation-wide tree plantation campaign to protect the environment. Highlighting the importance of trees to protect the environment and the ozone layer, Shah said the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has taken the pledge to plant 30 lakh trees in 100 days for the coming generation, and he is closely associated with the campaign. "This is a beautiful campaign, and it is a big thing that a municipal corporation will plant 30 lakh trees. But I would like to ask the citizens of Ahmedabad as to what will be your contribution?" he said. Shah said the people of Ahmedabad should plant at least those many trees as the number of their family members in their residential societies, nearby waste lands, and their children's schools. "Every citizen should make it the aim of their life to take steps to increase oxygen in the environment

AAP questions BJP's 'silence' on tree felling in Ridge area

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday questioned the BJP's silence over the "illegal" felling of trees in the ridge area, and said the party's stand on Delhi's pollution is just "politics". Addressing a press conference, AAP senior leader Jasmine Shah said that since the issue has surfaced, the BJP and Lt Governor VK Saxena have maintained "silence" over it. "BJP is the first to do politics over the issue of pollution and shed crocodile tears over it. They have stalled many works of the Delhi government over the pollution issue. Why are they silent?" he said. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is alleged to have cut 1,100 trees without due permission. The Supreme Court, hearing a case related to the matter, has directed the Delhi government and the civic agencies to discuss comprehensive measures to enhance the city's green cover. Shah also asked if officers of the DDA and the forest department were under pressure from their higher-ups over the matter. He claimed that the officials w