Tree‑Felling Protests Across India: From Chipko Legacy to NGT Interventions (2025‑2026)

<p>In early 2025 a series of protests erupted in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi against large‑scale tree removal for roads, malls and infrastructure projects. Activists invoke the historic <span class="key-term" data-definition="Chipko Movement — 1970s grassroots forest‑conservation campaign in Uttarakhand where villagers hugged trees to stop commercial logging (GS3: Environment)">Chipko Movement</span>, demand stricter enforcement of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="National Green Tribunal (NGT) — specialised judicial body in India that adjudicates environmental disputes and enforces environmental laws (GS3: Environment)">NGT</span>, and question the efficacy of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Compensatory afforestation — policy that mandates planting new trees elsewhere to offset loss of forest cover, often criticized for delayed ecological benefits (GS3: Environment)">compensatory afforestation</span>. The protests highlight the ecological, climatic and livelihood impacts of indiscriminate tree felling.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>March 2025: Over 4,400 trees slated for removal to widen the <strong>Dehradun‑Rishikesh road</strong> trigger a funeral‑themed protest in Dehradun’s Parade Ground.</li> <li>2025‑2026: Citizens of Jaipur form the ‘Dol Ka Badh’ movement against the felling of ~600 trees for a mall near the airport.</li> <li>2025: The <strong>Pune bench of the NGT</strong> stays the cutting of 5,000 trees in Maharashtra for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela project.</li> <li>2023: The NGT rules in favour of the ‘Nature Lovers of Hyderabad’, saving thousands of ancient banyans slated for road widening.</li> <li>May 10 2026: 673.32 ha of Delhi’s Ridge declared a ‘reserved forest’, though the government plans to plant non‑native species.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>According to a recent RTI, <strong>83,000 trees</strong> (including sal, haldu, khair, shisham, jamun and banyan) were cut in Uttarakhand over the past five years, many over 200 years old. Experts note that these figures exclude saplings, shrubs and grasses, under‑representing the true loss. <span class="key-term" data-definition="Avenue trees — trees planted along streets and roads that mitigate air pollution, act as carbon sinks and moderate local temperatures (GS3: Environment)">Avenue trees</span> such as peepal, neem and banyan also provide cultural and livelihood benefits. Their removal aggravates the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Urban heat island effect — phenomenon where built‑up areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural zones due to reduced vegetation and heat‑absorbing surfaces (GS3: Environment)">urban heat island effect</span>, especially in hill stations like Dehradun and Mussoorie.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>These events illustrate the intersection of environmental governance, federal‑state coordination and sustainable development—core topics for GS III (Environment) and GS II (Polity). Aspirants should analyse: (i) the legal framework (Forest Conservation Act, 1980; NGT judgments); (ii) the efficacy of policy tools such as <span class="key-term" data-definition="Compensatory afforestation — policy that mandates planting new trees elsewhere to offset loss of forest cover, often criticized for delayed ecological benefits (GS3: Environment)">compensatory afforestation</span> versus in‑situ conservation; and (iii) the socio‑economic dimensions of forest‑dependent communities, tourism, and urban planning.</p> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <p>Policy recommendations include: strengthening community‑forest partnerships, mandating ecological impact assessments that factor in <span class="key-term" data-definition="Urban heat island effect — phenomenon where built‑up areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural zones due to reduced vegetation and heat‑absorbing surfaces (GS3: Environment)">urban heat island effect</span>; ensuring that any afforestation uses native species proven to thrive in the local ecosystem; and expanding the jurisdiction of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="National Green Tribunal (NGT) — specialised judicial body in India that adjudicates environmental disputes and enforces environmental laws (GS3: Environment)">NGT</span> to expedite enforcement. Continued citizen mobilisation, as seen in the Chipko‑style protests, remains vital for holding governments accountable and preserving India’s green heritage.</p>