PHA appoints tree officers for strict tree monitoring across Punjab

Protecting Punjab’s green future through smart monitoring. Strong action to save, track, and preserve every tree.

The Punjab Horticulture Authority (Punjab Horticulture Authority) has introduced a new administrative framework aimed at tightening tree protection laws and improving urban greenery management across the province, appointing dedicated “Tree Officers” in major districts to oversee preservation, monitoring, and regulation of trees.

According to a spokesperson, the initiative is designed to ensure stricter oversight of tree cutting, pruning, and transplantation activities, while also building a modern digital record system for long-term environmental planning.

Under the new structure, senior officials designated as Tree Officers will be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive, GIS-based Tree Inventory Record, enabling authorities to map and track trees across their jurisdictions. The system will also support periodic inspections to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

So far, Tree Officers have been appointed in key districts including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, and Dera Ghazi Khan, with further appointments expected soon in remaining districts. Officials said the move is part of a phased rollout under recently adopted tree protection regulations.

Each Tree Officer will evaluate applications related to tree removal, pruning, or transplantation and present them before a newly formed technical committee. This committee will consist of independent experts such as arborists, foresters, environmentalists, and botanists, ensuring that decisions are made on scientific and environmental grounds rather than administrative discretion alone.

The Tree Officer will also serve as secretary of the committee, coordinating assessments and ensuring transparency in decision-making. Additionally, they will supervise compensatory plantation efforts and monitor survival rates of newly planted trees for a minimum of three years.

Other responsibilities include identifying and protecting heritage trees, initiating legal action against violations, issuing notices, and recommending penalties where necessary. The officers will also submit quarterly compliance reports to the managing directors of respective horticulture agencies.

To support field operations, Assistant Tree Officers (ATOs) will assist with inspections, plantation monitoring, and technical reporting, while maintaining photographic and digital documentation of projects and tree conditions.

Officials emphasized that the department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal tree cutting. They added that tree protection remains a top priority for the provincial government, which has been actively expanding plantation drives across Punjab to combat climate change and improve urban living conditions.

Public awareness campaigns are also being strengthened to educate younger generations about the importance of trees and environmental conservation, reflecting a broader effort to build a greener and more sustainable future for urban and rural communities alike.