Lok Sabha Question No. 1106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Illegal Felling of Trees
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Anand Bhadauria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1106

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## Illegal Felling of Trees

## 1106. SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that illegal felling of trees is going on in various States including the State of Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the  Government has assessed the number of trees illegally cut down every year, if so, the details thereof, State-wise, if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to stop illegal felling of trees?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (c)  Protection  and  management  of  forest  and  tree  resources  is  primarily  the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forest and tree resources of the country which include, the Indian Forest Act 1927, Van (SanrakshanEvamSamvardhan) Adhiniyam  1980,  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act  1972  and  the  State  Forest  Acts,  Tree Preservation  Acts  and  Rules,  etc.  The  State  Governments  /UT  Administrations  take appropriate  actions  to  protect  forests  and  trees  under  the  provisions  made  under  these Acts/ Rules. The instances regarding the illegal felling of trees as and when detected are cognized under the relevant Forest Acts and are proceeded against the offenders before the competent  Court/competent  Authorities.  The  particulars  regarding  the  illegal  felling  of trees are maintained by concerned State Governments.

As  per  the  report  received  from  the  State  Forest  Department,  Government  of  Uttar Pradesh, illegal  felling  in  the  forest  area  of  the  State  is  controlled  by  ensuring  the protection  of  forest  areas  backed  by  the  powers  under  the  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927.  In private  areas  and  in  other  lands,  the  incidence  of  illegal  felling  of  trees  is  checked  and controlled under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Tree Protection Act, 1976.

The assessment of the trees involved in the illegal felling instances is carried out by the local forest authorities and the associated data are maintained in the relevant forest offense registers in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the concerned State Governments. As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR)-2021 published by the Forest Survey  of  India  (FSI),  Dehradun;  the  forest  cover  and  tree  cover  in  the  country  have increased by 1,540 square kilometers and 721 square kilometers respectively, as compared to  the  assessment  published  in  ISFR-2019.  There  is  an  increase  of  79.4  million  tons  of carbon stock as compared to the previous assessment published in 2019.

In order to stop the illegal felling of trees, State Governments are taking various measures such as regular patrolling in the forest areas by front-line forest staff to prevent occurrence of any illegal/prohibited activities, establishment of patrolling camps/anti-poaching camps, check posts at strategic and vulnerable locations, deployment of vigilance and flying squad parties, regular inspections in vulnerable areas, etc. Besides, State Forest Departments are also implementing Joint Forest Management programmes, awareness campaigns, educational  programmes,  etc.,  to  secure  the  involvement  of  communities  in  forest protection activities.

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