Jammu and Kashmir has been bestowed by Almighty with mesmerizing landscapes wherein forests play a pivotal role in sustaining ecological balance, biodiversity, and the region’s socio-economic fabric. However, these forests face several challenges and it was in this backdrop that while inaugurating Van Mahotsav 2025 at Jammu on Monday, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah insisted that uncontrolled deforestation must stop as climate change is real, and the signs are all around. He asserted that earth and environment are a heritage that must pass on to the next generations and if not improved, at least it must be preserved. He suggested that there needs to be a check on greed; only our needs must be met. He advocated genuine afforestation efforts to produce results that matter, not just statistics. Admitting that development is a need, he cautioned that it should be judicious and development must be carried out with sincere concern for the environment.
Jammu and Kashmir has huge wealth of forests and forest produces but is gradually losing it due to umpteen reasons. These forests, dominated by species like deodar, chir, kail, and fir, are lifelines for agriculture, tourism, and energy sectors. Yet, they face unprecedented threats from deforestation, climate change, and developmental pressures, necessitating urgent conservation efforts.
15th century sofi saint, Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA) had stated “Ann Poshi Teli Yeli Wan Poshi” (food will last as long as forests last). This great saint had this scientific wisdom in 15th century and what is happening today in so called developed and modern times? The forest cover is shrinking. The Forest Survey of India’s 2023 report highlights a concerning loss of 40.61 square kilometers of forest cover between 2021 and 2023, driven by infrastructure development and forest fires. The government has to wake up and do anything and everything under its command for preservation of forests because it is the forest cover that regulates water flow in rivers like the Jhelum and Chenab, support hydropower projects, and provide habitat for diverse flora and fauna and also having a wealth of medicinal value plants and shrubs.
Apart from other reasons, a construction boom has exacerbated forest degradation. Reports suggest that between 2001 and 2023, J&K lost 952 hectares of tree cover due to fires and 3,230 hectares to other deforestation drivers. Tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam have seen significant forest loss due to illegal constructions, often by influential entities. The diversion of 727 hectares of forest land for infrastructure and military use between September and October 2019 further illustrates the scale of the challenge. These activities not only diminish forest cover but also lead to soil erosion, flash floods, and reduced forest productivity, threatening the region’s ecological stability. As suggested by the Chief Minister, preservation of forests demands a balanced approach that prioritizes environmental integrity over unchecked development.
