**Summary:**
In response to concerns raised regarding illegal felling of trees across various Indian states and union territories, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1317 on July 28, 2025. The Ministry clarified that the protection and management of forests and tree cover are primarily the responsibilities of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, which are governed by legal frameworks such as the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980, the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, and respective State Forest Acts. Instances of illegal felling are addressed under these acts by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. Data on illegally felled trees are assessed and maintained by local forest authorities in forest offense registers, following guidelines prescribed by the respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The India State of Forest Report 2023 indicates an increase in forest cover by 156.41 square kilometers and tree cover by 1289.40 square kilometers compared to the 2021 report. The government's measures to prevent illegal felling include regular patrolling by frontline forest staff, establishment of patrolling/anti-poaching camps and check posts, deployment of vigilance and flying squad parties, regular inspections, and implementation of Joint Forest Management programs and awareness campaigns to engage communities in forest protection.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and forestry.
SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: Member of Parliament who raised the question about illegal felling of trees.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who provided the answer to the question.
Indian Forest Act, 1927: A legal framework for the protection and management of forests and tree cover in India.
Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 1980: A legal framework for the protection and management of forests and tree cover in India.
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: A legal framework for the protection and management of forests and tree cover in India.
India State of Forest Report 2023: A report published by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, providing assessment of forest cover.
Forest Survey of India, Dehradun: Organization that publishes the India State of Forest Report.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1317
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Illegal Felling of Trees
1317. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:
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 in the country and if so, the details thereof.
(b) whether the Government has assessed the number of trees illegally cut down every
year and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) 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) Protection and management of forests and tree cover are primarily the
responsibilities of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
There are legal frameworks for the protection and management of forests
and tree cover of the country, which include, the Indian Forest Act, 1927,
the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, the Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972, the State Forest Acts, Tree Preservation Acts and
Rules made thereunder. The instances regarding the illegal felling of trees
as and when detected are proceeded against the offenders before the
competent Court/ Authorities under relevant acts. The concerned State
Governments / Union Territory Administrations maintain the particulars
regarding illegal felling of trees.
(b) and (c) The local forest authorities carry out the assessment of the illegally felled
trees and the associated data are maintained in the relevant forest offence
registers in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the concerned
State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations. As per the India State
of Forest Report-2023 published by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun,
the forest cover and tree cover in the country have increased by 156.41
square kilometers and 1289.40 square kilometers respectively, as compared
to the assessment published in ISFR-2021.(d) The important steps taken by the Government to stop illegal felling of trees
include the following:
(i) regular patrolling in the forest areas by front-line forest staff to
prevent occurrence of any illegal/prohibited activities,
(ii) establishment of patrolling camps/anti-poaching camps, check posts
at strategic and vulnerable locations,
(iii) deployment of vigilance and flying squad parties, regular
inspections in vulnerable areas, etc.
(iv) implementing Joint Forest Management programmes, awareness
campaigns, educational programmes, etc., to secure the
involvement of communities in forest protection activities.
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