Jammu & Kashmir leadership criticised for forest neglect

The administration of Jammu and Kashmir is facing criticism for what observers describe as a failure to safeguard the region's forest cover. Environmental NGOs and forest officials have highlighted a pattern of weak enforcement of conservation rules and delayed implementation of afforestation programmes.\n\nExperts warn that the lack of decisive action could accelerate deforestation, threaten biodiversity and undermine the livelihoods of communities that depend on forest resources. Recent satellite data, cited by local watchdogs, suggest a noticeable decline in canopy density over the past year.\n\nGovernment representatives have so far offered limited comment, stating that broader development priorities sometimes constrain immediate forest interventions. Critics argue that sustainable forest management must be integrated into the state's planning agenda to prevent irreversible ecological damage.\n\nStakeholders are urging the leadership to adopt stricter monitoring, increase funding for re‑planting initiatives and involve local communities in conservation efforts to restore the health of Jammu and Kashmir's forests.