Uttarakhand Loses 214 Sq Km Forest Cover Amidst 'Graveyard of Trees' Crisis

In this Special Report, the focus is on the alarming rate of deforestation in Uttarakhand, often referred to as a 'graveyard of trees'. The state has lost nearly 214.17 sq km of forest cover in the last decade, with 45,000 hectares diverted for development since 2000. The programme exposes the failure of transplantation projects, citing the death of 900 trees on Shastradhara road despite High Court orders. An unidentified speaker warns that the 'unabated push to increase the size of the economy' is fueling climate crises and human-wildlife conflict, calling for a sustainable development model.