More than 1,06,000 mature trees have been cut across Assam over the past decade for a variety of public and private development projects, according to official data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query. The information, collected from the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) under the Assam Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department, shows that the bulk of the tree felling occurred after May 2016, when the BJP formed its first government in Assam. Data was gathered from 15 out of 44 wildlife and territorial forest divisions, while many divisions either did not provide details or did not respond. Notably, none of the responding divisions reported conducting any ecological impact assessments before or after such large-scale tree removal.
Tree Felling Linked to Government and Private Projects
Official figures indicate that over 26,000 trees were cut in notified forest areas, while the remaining trees were felled in non-forest locations. Approximately 84,000 trees were cleared for government infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, flyovers, factories, medical colleges, and police battalions, while more than 10,000 trees were removed for private ventures. The pace of felling increased in recent years, with around 65,000 trees cut between 2021 and 2025 during Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tenure, compared to over 18,000 trees during the previous government led by Sarbananda Sonowal. Assam Environment Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary defended the actions, stating that tree felling was carried out out of “dire necessity” to facilitate development, citing projects such as the four-laning of National Highway-17, construction of Darrang Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), and oil exploration activities by ONGC and Oil India.
Plantation Drives Attempt to Compensate Losses
In response to concerns over deforestation, the Assam government highlighted large-scale afforestation initiatives, claiming that over 3.5 crore saplings were planted in the past two years. One of the flagship programs, Amrit Briksha Andolan, involved planting one crore saplings in a single day, and official reports indicate that more than 70% of the saplings have survived due to proper care and monitoring. While the government emphasized these achievements, environmental experts warn that planting saplings cannot immediately replace the ecological functions of mature trees. Narayan Sharma, Assistant Professor of Environmental Biology at Cotton University, noted that mature trees provide decades of ecosystem services, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat, which cannot be replicated by saplings in the short term.
Experts Call for Ecological Assessments and Caution
Environmental scientists stress the need for proper ecological impact assessments whenever large numbers of trees are felled. Minakshi Bora, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Gauhati University, highlighted that the felling of over one lakh mature trees cannot be equated with the planting of saplings. “A mature tree represents decades of biomass, carbon storage, habitat value, and ecosystem services that a sapling cannot immediately replace,” she said. Bora further described the absence of systematic ecological studies as “scientifically concerning,” warning that cumulative ecological degradation may go unnoticed until the impacts become severe and potentially irreversible. Experts emphasize that future development projects should include careful planning and environmental assessments to balance infrastructure growth with sustainable ecosystem management.
