Tree Committee

Tree Committee is a very important committee in the protection of environment and greening of gram panchayats. This committee manages the matters related to planting, protecting and cutting of trees in the panchayat limits at necessary stages.

The main duties and structure of this committee, which is formed under the instructions of the Local Self-Government Department and the Social Forestry Section of Kerala, are as follows:

1. Structure of Tree Committee

Usually, the following are the members of the Tree Committee formed at the panchayat level:

Chairman: President of the gram panchayat.

Convener: Social Forestry Section Officer of the Forest Department (for example, Section Forest Officer or Beat Forest Officer) or an officer nominated by the Panchayat Secretary.

Members: Chairmen of the Development Affairs/Health and Education Standing Committee of the Panchayat Administrative Committee.

Agriculture Officer.

Environmentalists/Public Representatives (Nominated by the Panchayat).

2. Key Responsibilities

Permission for felling trees: Before cutting down trees in public places or on roadsides that are in danger, the Tree Committee should visit the site and inspect them. The Panchayat will give permission for felling trees based on the recommendation of the committee.

Road Development and Tree Felling: When trees have to be cut down for the development of Public Works Department (PWD) or Panchayat roads, this committee decides how many trees should be planted in return.

Compensatory Afforestation: The committee should ensure that the rule is implemented that when a tree is cut down for development purposes, 10 or more tree saplings should be planted in return.

Plantation and Protection: Prepare plans to plant suitable tree saplings within the panchayat limits and protect them in collaboration with the forest department on occasions like Environment Day.

3. Things the public should know

If the trees in their own land are standing in a way that poses a danger to the public/passengers, the panchayat can recommend their cutting based on the report of the tree committee.

Cutting trees in public places without permission is punishable. The tree committee has the authority to prevent such violations.