Was it felling or was it pruning?

The government maintains that the alleged cutting down of centuries-old chinar trees in Indian-administered Kashmir was merely routine pruning, but locals and photographs indicate otherwise, sparking outrage. The discussion has brought the endangered tree and conservation efforts back into the spotlight.

An iconic feature of the Kashmir valley’s landscape, the chinar is a popular tourist destination, particularly in the fall when the leaves of the trees turn a fiery red to a warm auburn.

Although the trees are indigenous to Central Asia, Mughal emperors and princely kings brought them to Kashmir centuries ago. They have grown to hold a significant position in Kashmiri culture over time.

However, their survival is in danger due to illegal logging, rapid urbanization, and climate change, so authorities are taking action to protect them.

Chinar trees have been geotagged by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to monitor their condition. Each tree will have a QR code attached to it that contains details about its location, age, and other physical attributes.

“We are ‘digitally protecting’ chinar trees,” notes project leader Syed Tariq, a scientist. He explains that the information a QR code provides can help both locals and visitors learn more about a tree, but it can also help combat issues like illegal or hurried tree cutting.

About 29,000 Chinar trees have been geotagged thus far by the project, and another 6,000–7,000 are still awaiting mapping.

According to Mr. Syed, there was no accurate count of these trees despite their heritage value. Although 40,000 is listed in government records, he says the number is questionable but is positive that their numbers have decreased.

The tree takes at least 50 years to mature, so this is an issue. Environmentalists claim that issues like shrinking space are a problem for new plantations. Furthermore, the area has recently seen warmer summers and snowless winters, despite the fact that chinar trees require a cool climate to thrive.

Conversely, the oldest Chinar tree in the area is thought to be about 700 years old, proving that these trees can live for hundreds of years. With their enormous trunks and expansive canopies, most of the trees are at least a few centuries old.

The Mughal era, which spanned the early 1500s to the mid-1800s, saw the highest patronage of the trees. According to Mr. Syed, a large number of the valley’s trees were planted during this time.

Because of Kashmir’s cool climate and stunning landscape, the Mughal kings, who ruled over much of what is now India, used it as a summer retreat. Additionally, for their amusement, they constructed “pleasure gardens”—landscapings renowned for their symmetry and verdant surroundings.

In these gardens, the chinar took center stage, and trees were typically planted alongside water channels to add to the area’s beauty. There are still many of these gardens today.

In one such pleasure garden near the well-known Dal Lake in Srinagar, the Mughal emperor Akbar planted about 1,100 trees in the 16th century, according to government literature. However, over time, about 400 of these trees have died off as a result of road-widening projects and pest-related diseases.

According to legend, Akbar’s son, Emperor Jahangir, planted four chinar trees on a small island in Dal Lake, naming it Char Chinar (Four Chinars), which is now a popular tourist destination. Two trees eventually died of aging and disease, but in 2022 the government replaced them with mature trees that had been transplanted.

It’s interesting to note that the Chinar is protected by the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act, 1969, which requires official approval even for pruning and governs its export and felling. Even though the area lost its statehood in 2019, the law is still in effect.

However, Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environmental activist, claims that authorities frequently take advantage of legal loopholes to cut down Chinar trees.

He claims, “Under the garb of pruning, entire trees are felled,” referring to a recent reported felling in the Anantnag district that caused indignation.

“The government is geotagging trees on one side, but cutting them on the other,” he claims. He continues by saying that residents illegally fell trees while authorities removed them for urban projects.

Chinar trees produce hard wood that is perfect for furniture, carvings, and artifacts. They are also used by the locals to make herbal medicines and as firewood.

Chinar trees produce hard wood that is perfect for furniture, carvings, and artifacts. They are also used by the locals to make herbal medicines and as firewood.

According to Mr. Bhat, government initiatives like geotagging are increasing awareness. He continues by saying that Kashmiris, who have a strong cultural bond with the chinar, now speak out against its destruction.

Many people shared pictures of the purportedly felled trees in Anantnag on X (formerly Twitter) last week, and opposition leaders called on the government to look into the matter and take action against those responsible.

“The government should protect the trees in letter and in spirit,” says Mr. Bhat.

“Because without chinar, Kashmir won’t feel like home.”