#Tree Conservation

NGT Pune rules that detailed disclosure of vegetation, including tree count, transplantation, and conservation measures in the Environment Clearance (EC) Form, defeats claims of misrepresentation. The judgment reinforces that compliance with procedural transparency in EC applications shields project proponents from allegations of suppressed data.

The National Green Tribunal emphasizes that environmental clearances cannot be finalized without verified compliance with all Stage-I conditions, reinforcing procedural rigor under EIA Notification 2006.

NGT holds that even exempted tree species require procedural compliance; unauthorized felling on university land violates environmental due process and public trust doctrine.

NGT holds that compensatory afforestation at 1:10 ratio is mandatory for tree felling, even for public infrastructure. No automatic exemption for state projects.