Question : Illegal Felling-Cutting of Trees

(a) whether the Government has taken note of illegal felling/ cutting of trees in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of cases of illegal felling/cutting of trees reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UTwise;
(c) whether there is an established procedure to account for the number of trees felled illegally and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has assessed the impact of illegal felling/cutting of trees on environment and if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(e) the further steps taken by the Government to tackle illegal felling/cutting of trees?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)& (b)The Ministry is in receipt of complaints regarding illegal felling and cutting of trees. However, the details regarding factual number of cases of illegal felling of trees and total number of trees felled are not maintained at the level of the Ministry.

(c)Every incident of illegal felling of trees is taken note of and registered by the concerned State/Union Territory. Further, follow up action is taken up as per the concerned State specific Forest rules/Acts or Indian Forest Act.

(d)No specific study on impact of felling of trees on environment has been carried out by the Ministry.

(e)Protection and management of forests is primarily the responsibility of concerned State/UT Government. Action against forest offences including illegal felling of trees is taken under various Acts and Rules such as Indian ForestAct-1927, Forest Conservation Act-1980, Wildlife Protection Act-1972 and State specific Acts & Rules made thereunder. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides financial assistance to the State Governments and Union Territories for protection and management of forests under Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH), Project Tiger etc. The aim is to supplement the efforts of the States and Union Territories towards protection and management of forests.

*****