Why Does Punjab Need a Tree Protection Act? – Samita Kaur

In 2021, Punjab had a forest cover of 1,846.65 square kilometers, representing 3.67% of the state's total geographical area of 50,362 square kilometers. This represents a decrease of 1.98 square kilometers compared to the 2019 assessment. The forest cover in Punjab is categorized as follows: very dense forest (10.58 sq km), moderately dense forest (793.11 sq km), and open forest (1,042.96 sq km).

Punjab has only 3.67% are covered with trees whereas the required is 33% of the total geographical area.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Total Forest Cover: 1,846.65 sq km

Total Geographical Area: 50,362 sq km

Percentage of Forest Cover: 3.67%

Very Dense Forest: 10.58 sq km

Moderately Dense Forest: 793.11 sq km

Open Forest: 1,042.96 sq km

Change from 2019: Decreased by 1.98 sq km

In India, tree protection and conservation are governed by both central and state-level laws. Here's a breakdown relevant to Punjab and similar states:

1. Central Legislation

These apply across all states, including Punjab:

a. The Indian Forest Act, 1927

Provides the framework for forest governance.

Empowers states to declare reserved/protected forests.

Regulates the transit of forest produce (including trees).

b. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

Restricts the use of forest land for non-forest purposes without central government approval.

Protects forest cover by regulating deforestation.

c. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

An umbrella act for the protection of the environment.

Used for controlling pollution, deforestation, and protecting green cover.

2. State-Specific Legislation: Punjab

Punjab has its own tree protection policies in addition to central laws:

a. The Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900

Initially applied to erosion-prone areas, it gives the state power to regulate tree felling and land use to prevent degradation.

b. Punjab Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

Implemented in urban area (especially in and around cities like Chandigarh and Mohali).

Certain trees cannot be cut without permission from local authorities or the Forest Department.

Often used in conjunction with development authorities (e.g., GMADA).

3. Felling of Trees: Permission Required

In Punjab (and most states), you need permission from the Forest Department to cut down trees, especially if they are on public land or belong to protected species.

On private land: Certain species like eucalyptus or poplar may not need permission, but local rules vary.

On forest/government land: Strict regulations and prior approval are required.

4. Protected Tree Species

Certain trees are protected under various laws (like the Wildlife Protection Act and state forest rules). Cutting them without permission is illegal.

The Tree Act in Indian states refers broadly to various state-level laws enacted to regulate the cutting, preservation, and conservation of trees. India doesn’t have a single centralized “Tree Act” applicable uniformly across all states. Instead, each state has its own law, often titled as Preservation of Trees Act or similar, modeled broadly on environmental protection goals. Here are a few notable examples:

1. Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975

Applies to urban areas in Maharashtra.

Tree Authority established to oversee permissions for tree cutting.

Requires permission to cut trees, even on private land.

Mandatory planting of trees if trees are felled.

2. Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994

Enacted to protect trees in the National Capital Territory.

Cutting or pruning trees requires prior permission from the Tree Officer.

Penal provisions for unauthorized tree cutting.

3. Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976

Requires permission from the Tree Officer for felling trees.

Especially important in urban areas like Bengaluru due to rapid urbanization.

Includes a requirement for compensatory afforestation.

Karnataka uses GIS-based tree censuses with mandatory public disclosure, enhancing accountability.

4. West Bengal Trees (Protection and Conservation in Non-Forest Areas) Act, 2006

Focuses on non-forest areas (including urban spaces).

Encourages tree planting and penalizes unauthorized cutting.

5. Himachal Pradesh Forest Produce (Regulation of Trade) Act, 1982 and Tree Preservation Orders

Focused more on forest produce, but the state has tree preservation orders for urban and private lands.

Common Features Across States

Prior permission required for felling trees.

Compensatory planting is often mandated.

Penalties for unauthorized cutting.

Emphasis on urban greenery and biodiversity conservation.

Punjab Tree Preservation Tree Act 2025 modeled on the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 and the Chandigarh Tree Preservation Order, 2000.

Punjab Preservation of Trees Act, 2025

(Draft based on Delhi and Chandigarh Tree Laws)

Preamble

Tree Act of Punjab 2025

Chapter 1

(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Preservation of Trees Act, 2025.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Punjab.

(3) It shall come into force on such date 1st Augusas2025 as the Government may, by notification, appoint.

2. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) “Tree” means any woody perennial plant with a single main stem (trunk) of not less than 5 cm diameter at a height of 1 metre from the ground level.

(b) “Tree Officer” means an officer appointed under Section 3.

(c) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

(d) “Felling” means cutting, uprooting, or causing death of a tree by any means.

(e) “Occupier” includes a tenant, licensee, or any person in actual possession of land.

(f) “Government” means the Government of Punjab.

Chapter II – Appointment of Authorities

3. Appointment of Tree Officer

The Government may appoint one or more officers to be designated as Tree Officers for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

4. Constitution of Tree Protection Committees

The Government may constitute Tree Protection Committees at State, District, and Municipal levels to advise and assist in the implementation of this Act. Committee comprising of Forest Department, Local Administration, Botanists, Geologists ,Scientists, Environmentalists, NGos, Individuals etc.

Chapter III – Restrictions on Felling of Trees

5. Restriction on felling

No person shall fell or cause the felling of any tree without prior permission in writing from the Tree Officer. Including private and government owned land. Atleast for next 25 years in Punjab as the state suffers from extreme deficit. Of the total geographical area of Punjab only 3.67% are covered with trees whereas the required is 33% of the total geographical area.

6. Application for Permission

(1) Every application for felling or pruning of trees shall be made in the prescribed form.

(2) The Tree Officer shall, after inspection and considering environmental concerns, either grant or refuse permission depending on logistics.

(3) Before granting permission for cutting trees - Cumpulsoary Afforestation to be made prior ( before trees are cut ) to axing of trees.

7. Appeal

Any person aggrieved by the refusal of permission may appeal to the Appellate Authority designated by the Government within the stipulated time. Conditions for refusal should be in adherence with the Tree Act especially keeping in mind the Tree Cover in that particular area.

Chapter IV – Planting and Preservation

8. Duty to Plant Trees

(1) Every owner or occupier of land shall plant and maintain a specified number of trees, as may be prescribed, particularly during development or construction activities. Every city, society, parks , villages, towns should make it mandatory for areas allocations of trees which should be 33% of the particular land in question. statutory program, with incentives (e.g., certificates, cash prizes) for top contributors.

(2) Failure to not do so shall attract penalties. Applicable to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Panchayats and residential societies.

9. Declaration of Heritage Trees

The Government may declare any tree of historical, ecological, or cultural significance as a “Heritage Tree” and impose special protection measures. Any tree more than 100 years cannot be cut or axed without government approval on public or private land. Heritage Tree Buffer: Create a 50-meter no-development zone around Heritage Trees, stricter than the current approval-only restriction.

Chapter V – Penalty and Compensation

10. Severe Penalty for Felling Without Permission. With imprisonment.

Any person who fells or damages a tree without permission shall be punishable with:

(a) A fine up to Rs. 50,000 per tree; and/or non bailable arrest . Imprisonment for minimum 5 years.

(b) Imprisonment up to 5 years.

11. Compensation

(1) The Tree Officer may order planting of minimum 10 trees as compensatory afforestation for each tree illegally felled without attaining prior permission.

(2) The cost of planting and maintenance shall be borne by the offender. In case of non compliance, imprisonment of 5 years under Criminal law.

Chapter VI – Miscellaneous

12. Power to Make Revision after every 5 years.

The Government may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

13. Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith

Prosecution or legal proceeding shall lie against any officer or employee for acts done under this Act if found guilty amounting to suspension for 6 months, demotion from rank serving. Dismissal for repeated negligence, ensuring officer accountability

14. Power to Remove Difficulties

The Government may issue orders to remove any difficulty arising in giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

Schedule

(Forms for application, details of compensatory planting, list of Heritage Trees, etc.)

Explanatory Note

Punjab Preservation of Trees Act, 2025

Punjab, historically known for its fertile lands and vibrant natural landscape, is today facing significant environmental challenges. Rapid urbanization, industrial development, expansion of infrastructure, and intensive agriculture have led to large-scale tree felling, deforestation, and loss of green cover across the state. This has resulted in rising air pollution, declining groundwater levels, increased soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and adverse impacts on the health and well-being of citizens.

At present, Punjab lacks a comprehensive and uniform legal framework focused exclusively on the protection, preservation, and promotion of trees, especially within urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes. Existing laws are either fragmented or insufficiently enforced.

Learning from successful models like the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 and the Chandigarh Tree Preservation Order, 2000, it is essential for Punjab to adopt a dedicated law to:

Regulate tree felling and ensure prior permission from designated authorities;

Promote large-scale tree plantation and maintenance, especially in urban and newly developed areas;

Protect heritage and ecologically important trees;

Establish Tree Protection Committees for participatory governance;

Enforce penalties for unauthorized destruction of trees;

Support environmental conservation efforts and sustainable urban development.Roadside Plantation Obligation: Developers of highways or canals must plant and maintain a 1:15 tree ratio along project lengths (e.g., 15 trees per tree felled), with a 5-year survival guarantee.

The Punjab Preservation of Trees Act, 2025 seeks to fill this legal and policy gap, ensuring that trees, vital for maintaining ecological balance, mitigating climate change, and enhancing the quality of life, are effectively preserved for present and future generations.

Punjab Preservation of Trees Act, 2025:

Increasing the tree cover in Punjab by 20% is an ambitious but necessary goal, especially considering the challenges of deforestation, desertification, and urbanization. Here’s a comprehensive plan that could be implemented by government bodies, NGOs, communities, and individuals working together.

Water Management: Link tree planting to watershed projects (e.g., canal restoration) to ensure irrigation, addressing Punjab’s water scarcity.

✅ Goal: Increase Tree Cover in Punjab by 20% Geographical Area

🔸 Step 1:

Baseline Assessment

Current forest and tree cover in Punjab is about 3.67% of its geographical area (as per India State of Forest Report 2021).

A 20% increase of the state’s geographical area (50,362 km²) = ~10,072 km² more tree cover.

🌳 STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

1. Agroforestry Expansion

Integrate trees with farming – Punjab’s strength.

Promote tree plantations on agricultural lands (bunds, field margins).

Agro Forestry promoting Trees of high commercial values like

Aquiliaria trees( bark and gum used in perfumes/ Oudh)

Sandalwood plantation - high in commercial values. Certain areas in Punjab are already doing this on individual levels.

Moringa Trees- are natural purifiers, high medicinal value and demand. High in protein and equivalent to multi vitamins.

Encourage fruit trees, timber species, and nitrogen-fixing trees.

Sharing Carbon Credits with farmers adopting Agroforestry. Sending monetary compensation of Carbon credits directly to farmers bank accounts. Making easy enrolment to carbon credits. Formalize the carbon credit scheme with a state-level registry, ensuring farmers receive 80% of credit revenue directly, surpassing current voluntary models.

Use Model Agroforestry Schemes with subsidies and buy-back options.

Target: 4,000–5,000 km² through agroforestry

Tools: National Agroforestry Policy, MGNREGA

2. Urban and Peri-Urban Greening

Plant trees in and around cities, towns, and industrial zones.

Mandate 1 tree per 80 sq. m. in all new urban planning.

Develop urban forests in parks, road medians, and public land.

Engage RWAs, schools, and corporates in “Miyawaki forests.”

Target: 500–1,000 km² in urban areas

Tools: Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, CSR funds and statutory program, with incentives (e.g., certificates, cash prizes) for top contributors. Corporate Incentives: Mandate 2% of CSR funds from industries in Punjab for tree planting, with tax deductions.

3. Restoration of Degraded Lands

Convert wastelands, riverbanks, canal edges into green zones.

Use native drought-resistant species.

Restore forest patches with soil conservation, fencing, and protection.

Reclaim kandi (shivalik) areas and floodplains.

Target: 2,000 km² through reforestation

Tools: Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA). Higher Ratios: Increase the compensatory ratio to 15:1 for illegally felled trees and 5:1 for permitted felling, using native species suited to Punjab’s climate (e.g., Shisham, Neem).

4. Institutional Plantations

Target schools, colleges, universities, army campuses, railways, etc.Roadside Plantation Obligation: Developers of highways or canals must plant and maintain a 1:10 tree ratio along project lengths (e.g., 10 trees per tree felled), with a 5-year survival guarantee.

Every institution should plant and maintain at least 1 tree per student/employee.

Celebrate Van Mahotsav, Independence Day with mass plantations.

Target: 500–700 km²

Tools: Forest Department, Education Department

5. Incentivizing Private Landowners

Make it economically viable for individuals to plant and keep trees.

Provide free or subsidized saplings.Tax and Subsidy Benefits: Offer a 10% property tax rebate for landowners maintaining 33% tree cover and subsidies for agroforestry (e.g., Sandalwood, Moringa) with buy-back guarantees

Create minimum support prices for timber, commercial trees, fruits.

6. Mandatory Comprehensive Tree Census annually to be released in public domain.

Policy and Legal Framework

Strengthen laws and monitoring.

Strict enforcement of the Punjab Tree Preservation Act, 2025.

Mandate tree planting in building and road construction projects.

Use satellite and drone monitoring for coverage mapping. Numbering of trees on a regular basis.

7. Awareness & Community Participation

Make this a people’s movement.

Launch a state-wide “Har Ghar Ek Rukh- Ek Rukh Jawae Sare Dukh “

“ ਹਰ ਘਰ ਇਕ ਰੁੱਖ- ਇਕ ਰੁੱਖ ਜਾਵੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਦੁੱਖ”

campaign.

Involve gurdwaras, Mandirs, Market Committees, NSS, scouts, youth clubs.

Use social media , radio, television, magazines, contests, newspapers and local leaders to drive engagement.

🔁 Monitoring & Evaluation

Use remote sensing and GIS to track progress.

Set 5-year and 10-year targets.

Conduct annual audits of plantation success and survival rate.

Karnataka uses GIS-based tree censuses with mandatory public disclosure,enhancing accountability.

Statement of Objects and Reasons

The State of Punjab is experiencing rapid urbanization, industrialization, and expansion of infrastructure, which has led to an alarming reduction in tree cover and degradation of the natural environment. Trees play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, mitigating climate change, conserving soil and water resources, reducing pollution, and enhancing the quality of human life.

At present, there is no comprehensive legislation in Punjab specifically aimed at regulating the felling of trees, encouraging afforestation, protecting heritage trees, and ensuring community participation in tree preservation efforts. It is, therefore, necessary to enact a specific legal framework to safeguard and augment the tree cover across the State.

Drawing inspiration from the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 and the Chandigarh Tree Preservation Order, 2000, this Bill seeks to provide for the preservation, protection, conservation, and augmentation of trees by regulating the felling of trees, imposing obligations for plantation, establishing Tree Protection Committees, prescribing penalties for violations, and enabling compensatory afforestation measures.Pre-Felling Enforcement: Require a 100% survival audit of planted trees before felling permissions are granted, with a 2-year moratorium if targets are unmet.

The enactment of this law is essential for protecting the environment, promoting sustainable development, and securing the health, well-being, and ecological security of the people of Punjab for present and future generations.