Over 1 lakh mature trees chopped in Assam in 10 yrs; experts worried

More than one lakh mature fullgrown trees have been felled across Assam since May 2016 when the BJP formed its first government in the state for various public and private projects according to official recordsThe Assam government on the other hand said that all these trees were cut in dire necessity to develop the projects while more than 35 crore saplings have been planted in the last two years alone to compensate the loss in green coverHowever experts from different staterun institutions opined that cutting so many trees have resulted in significant ecological loss and comparing felling of mature trees with planting saplings is problematic while terming it scientifically concerning for no study to assess the impactReplying to a set of queries sent to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest PCCF through an application under the Right to Information Act 15 out of 44 wildlife and territorial divisions across Assam have said that 106896 trees have been felled so far since May 2016A set of 11 queries were submitted to the Office of the PCCF amp Head of Forest Force under the Environment Forest and Climate Change Department of the Assam government It was forwarded to 43 divisions across the stateApart from the 15 divisions that provided data 12 more responded to the RTI application but did not give any information related to tree fellingNo reply has come from the remaining 16 divisions at all so farNone of the 27 divisions that responded to the queries have conducted any study on the impact on ecology for cutting these huge numbers of trees over the yearsWhen contacted Assam Environment Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary told PTI that the trees were cut for oil exploration projects as well as infrastructure developmentThese trees have been cut across the state for various development projects It was a dire necessity to fell the trees for different projects he addedGiving examples Patowary said a huge number of trees were cut for the fourlaning of National Highway17 from Guwahati to Goalpara and construction of the Darrang Medical College and Hospital DMCHIn most places where trees were cut roads have been developed mainly the national highways Besides ONGC and Oil India are also exploring crude and developing wells at new locations For that too some trees were felled he addedThe DMCH is being built at a location where there was a silk plantation So the entire area was cleared for construction work the minister saidWe have planted a huge number of saplings against these felled trees In Amrit Briksha Andolan we planted one crore saplings in a single day There are other schemes also We have planted a total of 35 crore saplings in the last two years he addedAccording to the RTI data most of the responding authorities said that more than 70 per cent saplings have survived after proper careOver 26000 trees have been felled in notified forest areas since May 2016 while the remaining have been cut in nonforest locationsNearly 84000 trees were chopped for various government projects like construction of roads bridges flyovers factories and buildings such as medical colleges police battalions and all other structures More than 10000 trees have been felled for private worksThe available information shows that almost 65000 trees have been logged from 2021 to 2025 during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas tenure Over 18000 trees were removed during his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowals periodWhen contacted Cotton University Environmental Biology amp Wildlife Sciences Assistant Professor Narayan Sharma told PTI that equating the felling of mature trees with planting saplings is problematicA fullgrown mature tree represents decades of ecological value that cannot be quickly or easily replaced In most cases sapling plantations hardly compensate for the loss of mature trees immediately as it takes decades for them to provide comparable ecosystem services if they survive at all to the adult stage he addedOn the absence of a study to assess the impact of felling such a huge number of trees Sharma an expert of biodiversity conservation said that when large numbers of trees are felled at a particular location a proper ecological impact assessment must be conductedHe stressed that such a study or research is necessary to ascertain the damage to local microclimate and biodiversity ecosystem including its hidden impact on human physical and mental healthExpressing similar sentiments Gauhati University Assistant Professor Environmental Science Minakshi Bora said that as an environmental science teacher she would interpret this RTI data with caution and concernI would say the numbers appear impressive but they are not directly comparable Felling over one lakh mature trees and planting saplings are ecologically unequal actionsA mature tree represents decades of biomass carbon storage habitat value and ecosystem services that a sapling cannot immediately replace she addedBora a GIS and Ecohydrology expert also commented that not conducting the impact assessments in respective divisions is scientifically concerningWithout systematic study cumulative ecological degradation may go unnoticed until impacts become severe and irreversible she addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever