World Environment Day: Gujarat lost 2.71 lakh trees in five years amid development push

On World Environment Day, official data shows that Gujarat has lost more than 2.71 lakh mature trees in the past five years. During the same period, 1,313.39 hectares of forest land were diverted for non-forest purposes, according to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Gujarat Forest Statistics 2025 report.

The figures come at a time when governments across India are highlighting environmental protection and climate action through plantation drives, awareness campaigns and conservation programmes.

In Gujarat, World Environment Day and Van Mahotsav are marked annually with large-scale tree-planting events involving government departments, schools and community groups.

However, environmentalists have long argued that the loss of mature trees cannot be measured solely by the number of saplings planted, as older trees provide shade, store carbon and support local biodiversity.

More than 1,300 hectares of forest land diverted

According to the Gujarat Forest Statistics 2025 report, 1,313.39 hectares of forest land have been diverted for non-forest use.

Roads and related infrastructure projects accounted for 854.03 hectares of the diverted land. Industrial and township projects accounted for 421.41 hectares, while irrigation projects used 15.23 hectares.

Over 2.71 lakh mature trees felled

Official records show that more than 2.71 lakh mature trees were cut down across Gujarat over the past five years.

Road-widening projects, government buildings and other infrastructure works contributed to the loss. Under existing rules, agencies must carry out compensatory plantation when trees are felled. However, information on the long-term survival of these saplings is not readily available.

Tree cover declined in Narmada and Dang

The Gujarat Forest Statistics 2025 report also states that Gujarat lost nearly 100 hectares of tree cover over the past 25 years.

Narmada and Dang recorded the highest losses during this period.

Concerns over heat and pollution

The loss of trees and green cover has raised concerns about rising temperatures and pollution levels, especially in urban areas.

Ahmedabad has increasingly experienced the effects of the urban heat island phenomenon, where built-up areas retain more heat than surrounding regions.

Environmental experts have linked declining green cover to higher temperatures, poorer air quality and pressure on local ecosystems. They have also stressed that mature trees play a critical role in regulating temperatures, storing carbon and supporting wildlife.

Unlike newly planted saplings, decades-old trees provide immediate ecological benefits and are better able to withstand extreme weather conditions. As cities continue to expand and infrastructure projects gather pace, concerns remain over whether compensatory plantation can adequately replace the environmental value of trees that have been standing for decades.