On March 5, 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, to conduct a comprehensive tree census in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), excluding reserved forests. This initiative aims to enforce the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act, 1976, more effectively by establishing accurate data on existing trees.
The TTZ spans approximately 10,400 square kilometers, encompassing districts such as Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras, and Etah in Uttar Pradesh, along with parts of Bharatpur in Rajasthan. The court emphasized that without precise data on tree populations, enforcing penalties for illegal tree felling becomes challenging.
In its order, the Supreme Court instructed the TTZ Authority to formally appoint the FRI within a week. The FRI is to submit an affidavit detailing the methodology, timeline, and estimated costs for the census by the end of March 2025. Furthermore, all local authorities and the state government are mandated to cooperate fully with the FRI during this process.
This decision follows concerns over unauthorized tree felling in the TTZ, including a notable incident where 454 trees were reportedly cut overnight in Mathura. The court described this as a “shocking state of affairs” and has since imposed restrictions on tree cutting during nighttime hours to prevent such occurrences.
The tree census is a critical step toward preserving the ecological balance in the TTZ and safeguarding the environment surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Taj Mahal.
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