Mir Hasnain Iqbal
“Plantation drives are welcome, but real environmental progress begins when enthusiasm gives way to accountability.”
Every year, Kashmir witnesses plantation drives organised by government departments, schools, environmental organisations and local communities. Saplings are planted along roadsides, in parks, on school grounds and in other open spaces. Officials participate, people volunteer, and the message is encouraging: Kashmir must become greener. But there is a question we rarely ask after the photographs are taken and the events are over. How many of those saplings are still alive a year later? That is where the real test of a plantation drive begins. Planting a tree is easy. Keeping it alive through Kashmir’s dry spells, harsh winters, grazing pressure and other local challenges requires planning, protection and responsibility. Without these, a plantation campaign may look impressive on paper while delivering far less than expected on the ground. Kashmir needs plantation drives. But it needs something more: a serious commitment to the survival of every tree planted.
A Tree Needs More Than A Hole In The Ground: Much of the discussion around plantation focuses on the number of saplings planted. The condition of the soil receives far less attention. Yet soil is where a tree’s future begins. Healthy soil holds moisture, supports root development and provides nutrients. It contains organic matter and countless microorganisms that help maintain the ecosystem. Poor, compacted or eroded soil can make it difficult for young plants to establish themselves. A sapling may be planted with good intentions, but if the soil is unsuitable, watering is neglected or the plant is left unprotected, its chances of survival decline. This matters particularly in Kashmir, where mountain slopes, forest floors, orchards and agricultural land are vulnerable to erosion and changing weather conditions. A plantation drive that ignores soil health is missing a vital part of the job.
The Govt Must Look Beyond Plantation Figures: The plantation initiatives undertaken by the Jammu and Kashmir Government deserve appreciation. Government departments, forest officials, educational institutions and municipal bodies have an important role in expanding green cover and encouraging public participation. The Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir reported a plantation initiative covering urban local bodies across the Valley. A separate plantation and awareness programme was organised at Nilnag in Budgam, bringing together students, forest officials and members of civil society. Such efforts are welcome. But their long-term value depends on what happens after the plantation day. Authorities should maintain clear records of planted saplings and conduct follow-up inspections. Survival rates should be published, damaged plantations should be identified, and failed saplings should be replaced where appropriate. Every department involved in plantation should be able to answer three simple questions: How many saplings were planted? How many survived? What is being done to protect them? These are reasonable demands, not criticism of plantation efforts. Public money and public participation deserve measurable results.
Nature Cannot Be Restored Through Numbers Alone: There is another mistake we must avoid: assuming that planting more trees automatically means restoring nature. It does not. A plantation of unsuitable species can fail to support the local ecosystem. Planting trees in the wrong place can damage existing habitats. On some sites, protecting natural regeneration and allowing native vegetation to recover may be more effective than introducing additional saplings. The right species must be selected for the right location, taking account of soil, elevation, moisture and the surrounding ecosystem. Kashmir’s forests are not empty land waiting to be filled with trees. They are complex living systems containing mature trees, shrubs, grasses, microorganisms, insects, birds and other wildlife, all connected in ways that a simple plantation count cannot capture. Protecting an existing forest from degradation can be just as important as planting trees elsewhere.
“Kashmir needs scientifically planned, well-maintained plantation drives focused on sapling survival rather than high-volume, neglected plantings. Lasting environmental success requires long-term community and government care, shifting the metric of progress from trees planted to trees kept alive.”
Healthy Soil Is A Climate Solution: Soil conservation deserves a much bigger place in Kashmir’s environmental planning. Healthy soil helps rainwater enter the ground, reduces erosion and stores moisture that plants can use during dry periods. Organic matter in the soil also holds carbon, making soil management relevant to climate change mitigation. When vegetation is removed and soil is left exposed, heavy rainfall can wash away valuable topsoil. When soil loses its structure and organic matter, plants may struggle to obtain the water and nutrients they need. These problems affect not only forests but also orchards, agricultural fields and communities living near vulnerable slopes. Plantation programmes should therefore include soil assessment, suitable preparation, moisture conservation and protection against erosion. The goal must be to establish healthy trees in healthy landscapes.
The Public Has A Responsibility Too: Environmental protection cannot remain the responsibility of the Forest Department or municipal authorities alone. People often enthusiastically participate in plantation drives, but public responsibility should not end when the sapling is planted. Residents can help protect trees in their neighbourhoods. Schools can monitor plantation sites throughout the year. Community groups can report damaged plants and encourage proper maintenance. Schools, in particular, can turn plantation drives into meaningful environmental education. Students should learn not only how to plant a sapling but also why trees need healthy soil, how roots prevent erosion and how vegetation contributes to the water cycle. Imagine a school where students plant ten saplings and take responsibility for keeping them alive. At the end of the year, the school could report how many survived and what they learned from the experience. That would teach more about environmental responsibility than a one-day event followed by no further action. The same principle applies to residential colonies, public parks and community spaces. Every plantation should have someone responsible for its care.
Kashmir Cannot Afford Cosmetic Greenery: Kashmir’s environmental challenges cannot be solved through plantation alone. Forest degradation, wetland loss, pollution, poorly planned development and changing climate conditions require sustained attention. Planting trees is one part of the solution. Protecting existing forests, conserving water bodies, reducing pollution and planning land use responsibly are equally important. The government must connect plantation programmes with a wider environmental strategy. The public, meanwhile, must move beyond the belief that attending a plantation event is enough to fulfil its responsibility towards nature. The real work begins the following morning, when someone has to water the sapling, protect it from damage and make sure it survives.
Count The Trees That Survive: Kashmir does not need fewer plantation drives. It needs better ones. It needs scientifically selected species, healthy soil, proper maintenance and transparent monitoring. It needs Government departments that measure survival, schools that teach responsibility and communities that care for trees long after the publicity ends. Most importantly, it needs a change in how we measure success. A thousand saplings planted and left to die are no environmental achievement. A smaller plantation, carefully planned and successfully maintained, may deliver far greater benefits. The next time a plantation drive is announced, let us ask not only how many saplings will be planted but also who will look after them. Because a green Kashmir will not be built by planting trees for a day. It will be built by keeping them alive for decades.
(The author is a teacher and Environmental Science researcher pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
