Yogi Adityanath Warns: Unchecked Tree Felling May Spark a Food‑grain Crisis

During a recent assembly session, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sounded the alarm on an issue that many overlook – the chain reaction that starts with cutting down trees and ends on an empty plate. He said, quite plainly, that indiscriminate tree felling could set off a food‑grain crisis that would hit farmers and consumers alike.

It may sound dramatic, but the logic is simple. Trees act like nature’s sponges; they hold soil together, retain moisture, and regulate the micro‑climate that crops depend on. When they’re ripped out without any plan, the topsoil washes away, groundwater recedes and the monsoon’s bounty becomes erratic. All of that, he explained, translates into lower yields of wheat, rice and pulses – the staples that feed millions in the state.

Yogi recalled recent incidents where large swathes of trees were cleared for road work and illegal logging. “We cannot afford to be short‑sighted,” he warned, adding a hint of exasperation. He urged local bodies to enforce the existing forest‑conservation laws and to involve community groups in monitoring any felling activity.

Experts he invited to the session backed the chief minister’s view. Dr. Neha Sharma, a soil scientist from the Indian Institute of Technology, said that loss of forest cover can increase soil temperature by a few degrees, accelerating organic matter decomposition and, in turn, reducing the fertility that crops need. “It’s a domino effect,” she noted, “and once the soil structure is damaged, it takes years, sometimes decades, to restore it.”

The chief minister also pointed out that Uttar Pradesh already faces pressure from a growing population and the demand for more arable land. “If we keep stripping away our green cover, we’re essentially digging our own grave,” he said, his tone a mix of frustration and urgency.

To counter the trend, Yogi announced a crackdown on illegal tree removal and promised to launch a state‑wide afforestation drive targeting degraded areas. He urged schoolchildren, NGOs and even private landowners to plant saplings and protect existing trees. “Every tree matters,” he concluded, “and every grain on our tables depends on the health of our forests.”