The government said that no tree species, except for the Khair (Acacia catechu), can be felled from private land.| Photo: PTI The government said that no tree species, except for the Khair (Acacia catechu), can be felled from private land.| Photo: PTI In a significant move aimed at curbing illegal timber smuggling and escalating ecological concerns, Himachal Pradesh government come-out with a complete ban on green felling of trees on private land.
The Supreme Court has already imposed a blanket ban on green felling to protect the state's fragile mountain ecosystems and prevent environmental degradation.
On Saturday, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla issued two landmark notifications that have imposed strict regulations regarding tree cutting and transportation, reinforcing the state's commitment to protecting its natural resources.
The action comes as a sequel to reports about increased timber smuggling from Himachal Pradesh, especially state’s Una district—bordering Punjab.
The reports suggested that at least 500 timber stashed trucks have been moving out of the state every day from Una borders beside an unaccounted number of goods carriers crossing over to Yumana Nagar in Haryana from Sirmaur district.
“ With this much scale and volume of timber being smuggled, one can imagine what will be the state of Himachal Pradesh, its green cover and forests” Bikram Thakur, a BJP MLA pointed-out in the state assembly during a debate on corruption issue. This drew the attention of Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri ,who hails from Una and had himself admitted the fact. The situation had sparked a political uproar, with the opposition BJP demanding an investigation into the alleged corruption surrounding the illegal timber trade as the opposition pointed to a well organised nexus involving the forest officials, contractors and people close to ruling party circles on the lines of illegal mining mafia.
Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir Celebrate 'White Christmas'; Mercury Drops in Haryana, Punjabdragonara casino onlineComing-out with new measures, the government said that no tree species, except for the Khair (Acacia catechu), can be felled from private land without the explicit permission of the competent authorities.
The notification also restricts the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation to work on felling scheduled species from private lands.
While the ban is strict, three species—Poplar, Eucalyptus, and Bamboo—are exempt from prior permission for felling on private land. However, even for these trees, a transit permit from the concerned Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) is mandatory for transportation.
For personal use, landowners are permitted to fell three trees annually, regardless of whether they are coniferous or broadleaf. This policy recognizes the dependence of local communities on forest resources to meet essential household needs, such as firewood and fodder.
“This essential initiative seeks to curb unauthorized tree cutting, which has been causing significant damage to the state’s delicate ecosystem. Even Khair trees, historically valued for their wood, may only be felled under a tightly controlled 10-year felling program authorized by the Forest Department,” states Cabinet Minister Rajesh Dharmani.
He gave credit to Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu for his prompt action as part of his initiative to turn Himachal Pradesh as "green state" by March 2026.
In Pics: Heavy Snowfall Continues Across JK, Himachal, UttarakhandThe forest officials say that the new move focuses on ecological conservation though due care will be taken to watch the needs of local communities who depend on timber for their livelihoods, firewood and fodder.
Under the new order, the government has made it clear that the regulations are designed to strike a balance between preserving the environment and supporting the rural economy, especially in areas where sustainable practices can be incorporated.
By introducing new regulations, the state aims to ensure that tree felling occurs in a sustainable and accountable manner, helping safeguard the state's rich natural heritage and protecting thedelicate mountain ecology.
Earlier this, the Una Forest Division had ordered a ban on felling and transportation of all species of trees from forest or private land in the district, except for khair wood trees.
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Alarmed with the situation, the DFO (Una) said a temporary ban on felling and transporting all types of wood had been imposed to break the chain of continued exodus of forest produce outside the state.
All felling and transporting permissions, previously granted to forest contractors or private landowners, had been withheld till further notice, said DFO
The notification also clarified that transit permits are required for all tree species, including Khair, Poplar, Eucalyptus, and Bamboo. This measure ensures the proper regulation of timber movementsuperace88, preventing illegal logging and maintaining accountability.
