The Rajasthan government issued a statewide ban on felling Khejri trees (Prosopis cineraria) — the state tree of Rajasthan — following an intense 11-day agitation led by the Bishnoi community. The Revenue Department issued a formal order to all District Collectors between February 12 and February 26, 2026, directing them to ensure no Khejri tree is felled anywhere in the state without prior sanction.
The agitation was triggered by reports of large-scale felling of Khejri trees in western Rajasthan, allegedly to clear land for solar energy projects. The Bishnoi community, historically known for its fierce protection of Khejri trees — a tradition that dates back to the 1730 Khejarli massacre, where 363 Bishnois sacrificed their lives to protect trees — launched protests across Jodhpur and other districts.
Responding to the community's demands, the Rajasthan government not only issued the immediate ban but also promised to introduce a dedicated Tree Protection Law during the upcoming Budget Session of the state legislature. This would be the first such standalone legislation aimed at protecting sacred trees in Rajasthan.
Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) is ecologically vital in arid and semi-arid zones — it fixes nitrogen in soil, provides fodder and fuelwood, and acts as a windbreak against desert spread. The Bishnoi community's agitation is often compared to the Chipko Movement of the 1970s in the Himalayas, where villagers embraced trees to prevent felling — both exemplifying grassroots ecological resistance.