The law for the protection, encourangement and promotion of conservation of trees are dependent on the local laws of the State you are residing as there is no cetralised act for the same. However laws af all the State for the afosesaid purpose are more or less similar to each other. I am here providing you the generalised language to the extent it explains your querry.
Procedures should have been followed:-
Written application to the competent authority. A competent authority may, on receipt of an application from a person to fell a tree or otherwise dispose of any tree, for such purposes as may be prescribed, and on being satisfied with regard to the legality of documents towards the proof of ownership or lease of the land on which such tree stands and after making an inquiry, in such manner as may be prescribed, grant permission, in writing, to fell tree :Provided that no such permission shall be granted, if it is found on inquiry that the nature or character of the land may change or the mode of use of the land may alter, unless the person concerned produces the conversion certificate obtained from the collector concerned
Provided also that the competent authority shall, within three days from the date of receipt of application, give permission of felling of trees, if it constitute such immediate danger, as may be prescribed to any person or property.(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no permission shall be required if felling of trees is undertaken for not more than three trees at a time in rural areas :Provided that felling of trees shall not be undertaken in a particular plot of land more than once in a year.( 1 ) Every application under section 5 shall be in writing giving particulars of the tree, the details of the plot of land on which the tree is located and the reasons for felling the tree and shall be accompanied with such fee, as may be prescribed
As far as your query goes about planting of new trees that was the case if permission would have been granted. The law says
Every person, who fells any tree, shall undertake plantation of such number of trees as may be prescribed, in place of every tree felled, in the same plot of land and tend such plantation for trees in accordance with the directions of the competent authority :Provided that the competent authority may, for such reasons, as may be prescribed, to be recorded in writing, permit a lesser number of plantation' for trees to be undertaken in a different plot or plots, or exempt any person from the obligation of such plantation :Provided further that any person, unable to undertake plantations of trees, may deposit such amount of money, as may be prescribed considering the importance of trees, to the competent authority, facilitating the designated agency of the State Government to undertake plantation of trees for the trees felled. Note.—'designated agency of the State Government' for the purpose of this section means a designated agency of the State Government, as may be specified by the State Government
Every person who is to undertake plantation for trees shall start preparatory work for plantation within sixty days from the date of permission or the date of receipt of direction, as the case may be, and shall undertake plantation for trees, in accordance with directions .
In case of contravention:-
Whoever fells or causes to be felled any tree or cuts, uproots or otherwise disposes of any fallen tree, in contravention of the provisions of section 4, or contravenes any condition of any permission granted under this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both and until the plantation of requisite number of trees are undertaken, shall be fined for each day of default of fifty rupees. (2) If any person, or development agency or the benevolent activists, or the entrepreneur of the promoter, as the case may be, fails to implement the plantation plan as approved under sub-section (4) of section 9, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.
No prosecution shall be instituted against any person in respect of any offence under this Act without the previous sanction of the State Government or such officer or authority as may be authorized by the State Government by order in writing in this behalf.
Offence by firm, company, institution etc.
If the person committing an offence under this Act is a firm, a company, an institution or an association or body of individuals, the company, the institution or the association' or the body of individuals as well as every person in charge of, and responsible for the firm, the company, the institution or the association or the body of individuals for the conduct of its business at the time of the commission of such offence shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against arid punished accordingly :Provided that nothing contained in this section shall render such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
