12/06/2026
🌳Tree Transplantation Policy, 2020🌳
(Notification dated 24 December 2020, Department of Environment, Forests & Wildlife, GNCTD)
1. Notification and Applicability
🌳Tree Transplantation Policy, 2020 notified under Section 33 of the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.
🌳 Applicable across NCT of Delhi for management of trees affected by developmental activities.
🌳 Supersedes previous departmental orders to the extent of any inconsistency.
2. Definition of Transplantation
🌳 Transplantation means the scientific removal of a tree with sufficient root and shoot system and its replantation at a suitable new location after proper site preparation.
3. Objective of the Policy
🌳To reduce loss of green cover due to development projects.
🌳 To prioritize tree preservation and transplantation over felling.
🌳 To strengthen compensatory plantation and urban tree conservation.
4. Criteria for Selection of Trees for Felling and Transplantation
🌳 No tree shall be removed unnecessarily for any development project.
🌳Project planning and design should aim to preserve the maximum number of existing trees.
5. Compensatory Plantation Norms
🌳 Compensatory plantation at a ratio of 10:1 shall continue for every tree affected by developmental activity.
🌳 The requirement is in addition to transplantation and applies to both felled and transplanted trees.
🌳 All compensatory plantation saplings/trees must be at least 6 feet in height.
🌳 The plantation area and each individual sapling/tree must be geo-tagged for monitoring and verification.
6. Exclusion of Certain Tree Species from Transplantation
🌳 Invasive exotic species such as Leucaena leucocephala, Eucalyptus globulus and Prosopis juliflora (Vilayati Kikar) shall not be considered for transplantation.
🌳These species shall be excluded while calculating the requirement of minimum 80% transplantation of affected trees.
🌳 The Department shall periodically update the negative list of species exempted from transplantation.
7. Site Tree Report for Tree Transplantation
🌳A tree survey shall be conducted during project feasibility assessment and site identification.
🌳 The Site Tree Report shall include:
🌳 Physical count of all trees and girth measurements.
🌳 Geo-tagging of all trees.
🌳 Online photographic record of trees.
🌳 Preliminary assessment of trees proposed for transplantation and potential transplantation locations.
8. Additional Requirements for Government Projects
🌳 Site Tree Report must be prepared before obtaining Expenditure Sanction (E/S).
🌳Cost estimates for the report shall be included in the E/S proposal.
🌳 A copy of the report shall be submitted to the concerned Tree Officer before seeking E/S.
🌳 No approval from the Tree Officer is required at this preliminary stage; submission is only for record purposes.