Karnataka proposes to amend Trees act; citizen groups slam the move

On February 9, a proposal to amend the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, was introduced in the State Assembly. It proposed denotification of 50 species of trees including coconut, gulmohar, silver oak, rain tree, pink tabebuia, Indian cork tree and eucalyptus. If passed, any governmental agency will not require any nod to chop trees nor will they need to hold a public consultation. This is the second such amendment after 2015. The 2015 amendment had said that the permission of the tree officer is not required if less than 50 trees were to be axed for “public purposes”.

‘ We need a new law ’
Leo F Saldanha,coordinator, Environment Support Group (ESG)

Decentralise the process so that ward committees and village panchayats working closely with people exercise greater power over tree plantation and protection. The state government should simply assist in their functioning. Forest Department has become immune to public sentiment. Learn to trust people and their strong ethos to nurture life.


Greening committees have not been set up despite judicial orders. New norms should reduce commodification of trees.

‘ Encourage Awareness ’
Vijay Nishanth, founder, Project Vruksha

Introduce stringent penalisation and punishment for those harming trees.

Just like ‘Save the Tiger’ campaigns, governments can create a buzz around trees. This will require strong political will and long-term planning.

Government should undertake tree census on a priority and create an open online database of trees that will help people track trees in their locality and reach officials to save trees in distress.


OFFICIAL LINE
Appu Rao, deputy conservator of forests, BBMP Forest Cell, said that the proposed amendments will not pose a threat to the city’s tree population and that the department will cut trees only as a last resort. “We will launch a comprehensive, community-led tree census model in about two month. People will always have a say regarding tree-cutting and we will work closely with the public to ensure that nobody takes undue benefits of the existing provisions.”