After thehigh court of Bombay at Goaexpressed shock that tree authorities for North and South Goa had not met since their constitution in 2012, the authorities held a joint meeting based on court directives. A compliance report, as directed by the court, was filed, where it has been stated that the forest department is in the process of developing adedicatedonlineportal for applications seeking permissions for tree felling across Goa.

However, the state has told the court that it is not feasible to carry out a tree census in Goa as directed by the court, as it is a herculean task and Goas Climate leads to dense vegetation Growth within a short time. Once the online portal is operational, the entire process of tree felling (permissions) will be online, it said.

Presently, the forest department on a regular basis is uploading the permissions granted for tree felling on the forest departments website, reads the compliance report submitted by member secretaries of the tree authorities.

About the census, the tree authorities have said in the compliance report that the Forest Surveys of India, a body of the Union Environment ministry, has already surveyed the forest and tree cover in Goa. As per the 2019 report, Goas forest cover increased from 60.2% during the previous survey year to 60.4%.