You likely see trees every day. Some tower high, while others are smaller. Some have thick trunks, others are more slender. You might have considered all of them trees based on your understanding, perhaps recalling ‘T for Tree’ from childhood, which led you to call every plant a tree. However, a clear definition of what constitutes a tree has recently emerged.
The Delhi Forest Department issued a circular clarifying the definition of a tree. This clarification aims to prevent any ambiguity in identifying and counting trees.
According to the official order from the Forest Conservator, the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994, defines a tree as a woody plant with branches emerging from a single trunk, where the trunk is at least 5 centimeters thick at a height of 30 centimeters from the ground, and the plant is at least one meter tall.
The legal definition of a tree, as per the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, requires:
1. The plant must be a woody plant.
2. Its branches must emerge from a single main trunk.
3. The trunk must be at least 5 centimeters thick at a height of 30 centimeters from the ground.
4. The tree must be at least 1 meter tall from the ground.
This definition excludes small plants, shrubs, or plants with thin stems from being classified as trees. Only a plant that is woody, has a thick trunk, and is at least 1 meter tall qualifies as a tree.
The circular emphasizes the need to adhere strictly to the definition in Section 2 (i) of the DPTA, 1994 to avoid misunderstandings, such as treating individual branches of a tree as separate trees.
A senior forest officer stated that branches are generally not considered trees. Previously, trees like acacia and babul, which have multiple branches emerging from the ground, were sometimes counted as separate trees. However, under the new definition, they will not be regarded as such.
An official from the department clarified that new shoots emerging from the ground were also previously considered separate trees. The new order specifies that neither shoots nor branches will be considered separate trees.
This clarification is essential because the DPTA has established standard operating procedures (SOPs) for pruning trees. These procedures aim to remove dangerous and unnecessary branches along roads, railway lines, metro lines, RRTS, and footpaths to prevent accidents. The SOPs state that removing weak and unproductive branches from the tree trunk allows new branches and fruits to grow on the healthy parts of the tree, which then provide food for birds and animals.
According to the India State of Forest Report 2021, Delhi has a forest cover of 13.15% and a tree cover of 9.91%, resulting in a total green cover of approximately 23%.