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Experts Doubt 754 Tree Transplant Success Rate
8 Jul
Summary
- Large-scale tree transplantation has a success rate of only 20%.
- Recipient site must scientifically match original habitat for survival.
- Previous large-scale transplantations in Dehradun have largely failed.
Environmental activists are protesting the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh road widening project, which necessitates the felling of numerous trees within the Shivalik Elephant Reserve. A critical aspect of the project involves the transplantation of 754 trees. However, experts caution that such large-scale efforts have a success rate as low as 20%.
Success hinges on scientific precision, with recipient sites needing to closely mirror the original habitat. Experts stress the importance of matching soil composition and site conditions, noting that transplantation seasons also play a vital role. A 2021 report by the Forest Research Institute found insufficient evidence for tree translocation as a standard practice in infrastructure projects.
Despite a past large-scale transplantation in Dehradun in 2022, where many trees failed to survive, officials are hopeful the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will employ superior technical expertise. Former forest officials call for accountability for failed drives, highlighting the ecological and financial waste associated with such initiatives.
