Thousands of trees felled during Cyclone Tauktae in 2021 have not been cleared in Gujarat’s Gir forest, posing a potential fire hazard in the last remaining habitat of Asiatic lions. Gir, located in the western Indian state of Gujarat, is the only place in the world where Asiatic lions (Panthera leo leo) roam freely in the wild.
A total of 86,969 fallen trees across Junagadh and Gir Somnath districts pose a potential fire risk, showed minutes from the 82nd meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), held on March 12, 2025. Fallen trees can become a fire risk as they dry out over time, creating large amounts of flammable material that can ignite easily during the hot, dry season.
The minutes of the meeting noted that central government officials had raised concerns about the ongoing fire risk posed by the accumulated debris in Gir. During the meeting, NBWL member HS Singh stated that Cyclone Tauktae had caused widespread damage. He claimed that about 3.3 million trees had been uprooted during the event. However, the minutes wrongly attributed the year of the cyclone as 2023.
The fallen trees may pose a fire hazard, Singh said in the meeting. “Their removal may be recommended. However, the movement of these fallen trees must be monitored and restricted to designated routes. The forest department must ensure that standing trees are not removed under the pretext of clearing fallen ones.”
The Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife) also underscored the need for proactive fire prevention and forest management measures in the meeting. Salvaging the trees, he said, should be done in a way that supported conservation.
The state government has proposed to sell the removed trees. “However, the revenue generated would be reinvested into the Asiatic Lion Conservation Society for the protection of the species. This would set a precedent,” he said.
Speaking to Down To Earth, Singh said that during a cyclone in 1983, around 2.8 million trees had also been uprooted, though the 2021 event was more severe. “Most of these are teak and native deciduous species. Small and medium-sized trees can be chopped and used for water conservation or other ecological work, but the larger, older trees pose a greater threat during the dry summer months. Grass and dry wood can quickly trigger wildfires,” he said.
He added that the deadwood lay in the habitats of lions and other wildlife in the plains, increasing the animals’ vulnerability.
After deliberations, the NBWL standing committee recommended that the state government proceed with tree removal, subject to informing the Supreme Court. The wood would be stored in a depot inside the national park until final approval was granted. Transport of the timber would only be permitted via designated routes under strict supervision.