Plantation and restoration for real estate and construction: what applies
Builders meet trees at every stage: land survey, felling permission, building approval and green rating. The table lists the rules we could source. Rules vary by state and city.
| Rule |
What it asks |
How plantation helps |
Source |
| City and state tree laws (example: Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994) |
Permission from the Tree Officer; 10 saplings per tree felled, maintained 5-7 years; decision due in 60 days |
Yes: replacement planting and care, with records for the authority |
Delhi Forest Dept circular, 2023 |
| Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975 (amended 2021) |
Trees aged 50+ are heritage trees; proposals above 200 trees go to the State Tree Authority |
Yes: compensatory planting as directed; design to retain heritage trees |
The Tribune |
| S.O. 3999(E), 9 Dec 2016 |
Environmental conditions integrated with building permissions for buildings from 5,000 sq m upwards |
Yes: on-site planting and landscape conditions |
India Environment Portal |
| Draft Building Construction Environment Management Regulations, 2022 |
Proposed one tree per 80 sq m and at least 10% of plot under tree cover (draft) |
Yes: dense on-site planting and Miyawaki blocks raise tree cover |
Outlook/PTI |
| GRIHA Criterion 2 (Manual Vol. 5) |
Preserve or transplant mature trees; replant native species at 1:3; extra point for 25% more planting |
Yes: replanting, extra planting and documentation |
GRIHA Manual Vol. 5 (TERI) |
Permits first
Tree permission is often on the critical path. Survey every tree at due diligence and design around the best ones.
Read our tree-felling permission guide for Delhi and Maharashtra examples.
Dense native planting on small land
Miyawaki forests suit boundary strips, setbacks and campus corners. NHAI is also using the method on land next to highways. See our Miyawaki guide for projects.
Building approvals and tree cover
MoEFCC notification S.O. 3999(E) of 2016 linked environmental conditions to building permissions for projects from 5,000 sq m upwards. A 2022 draft proposed at least 10% of plot area under tree cover.
Check your state bye-laws and any environmental clearance for the exact tree numbers. Plan on-site planting space at the concept stage, not after the layout is fixed.
After handover
Trees planted for a permit or rating still need care after buyers move in. Agree a maintenance plan with the residents' association or facility manager, with a budget for at least the first three years.
Ratings and reporting
GRIHA rewards preserving trees and replanting at 1:3. IGBC Green Homes includes a Site Selection and Planning category. Our ratings guide covers what we could confirm.
Listed developers can report planting and survival under BRSR Principle 6.
