Assam’s forest and tree cover has decreased by 83.92 sq km between 2021 and 2023. Further more, the state has lost over 2.42 lakh trees in a span of ten years (2016-2026), largely driven by infrastructure projects such as national highway expansions by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Trees have been the first and worst victims of development in India, and Assam is not alone. Media reports quoting an RTI reply have revealed that over 83,000 trees were felled in Uttarakhand in ten years by NHAI alone for constructing and widening highways in the highly eco-sensitive state. Scientists say forest cover loss accelerates climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere and reducing the planet’s capacity to absorb greenhouse gases. Trees store carbon dioxide. Cutting or burning trees releases this gas back into the air, driving global warming. Forests act as natural carbon sinks. Their destruction removes vital absorbers of emissions. Deforestation and land-use changes cause roughly 7% to 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This newspaper prominently reported in its Sunday edition that climate change has gripped Assam along with the rest of the world, and Assam recorded 23% less than normal rainfall in this monsoon season. Climate change has also impacted Assam’s tea industry, which contributes more than 50% to India’s total tea production. The eight Northeastern states have together recorded a total forest cover loss of 327.30 sq km during 2021-2023, with Mizoram recording the highest decrease of 178.42 sq km. The India State of Forest Report 2023, on the other hand, has placed Nagaland in the fourth rank among Indian states for the highest forest and tree cover loss; the state lost 125.22 sq km of forest cover during 2019-23. Forest cover loss, erratic rain and flash floods form a dangerous cycle. This is because the missing trees cannot slow down sudden, heavy downpours. The recent unprecedented flash floods in the three upper Assam districts can thus be linked to the massive forest cover loss in Nagaland, where the rivers flowing through Charaideo, Sivasagar and Jorhat districts originate.