NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has set an ambitious goal to plant 64 lakh trees during the 2024-25 period, including over 54 lakh shrubs and trees, with the remainder being saplings distributed to the public for planting. However, experts have raised concerns about the uneven green cover across different parts of the city, questioning the effectiveness of the plantation strategy.
The India State of Forest Report highlights significant disparities in green cover within the city. While areas like New Delhi boast over 47% green cover, regions such as Northwest Delhi and West Delhi lag significantly behind, with less than 4% and 6% green cover respectively. This disparity has sparked debates on the allocation and execution of the plantation plan. Forest officials have acknowledged these concerns and are currently holding discussions with various government departments to identify spaces suitable for meeting the plantation targets. “We are in the process of identifying more areas for plantations, especially in regions with low green cover. Priority should be given to these areas, but finding adequate space is often challenging,” a forest official stated.
Experts argue that the lack of sufficient green cover in certain parts of Delhi contributes to higher temperatures, creating urban heat islands that exacerbate the city’s heat issues. This uneven distribution underscores the need for targeted plantation efforts to mitigate rising temperatures and enhance the city’s overall environmental health. Biodiversity expert emphasised the need for balanced green cover across the city. “Ideally, there should be at least 33% green cover everywhere. New Delhi, with its larger parks and smaller population, contrasts starkly with the high-density areas of north and northwest Delhi, which lack adequate parks and tree density. Even planting shrubs in larger pots in these high-density areas could make a difference,” he suggested.
Green activist highlighted the necessity of conducting a comprehensive tree audit to assess the condition of previously planted trees. “The city needs a tree audit to determine the status of past plantations. There’s been no follow-up on the free distribution of saplings previously undertaken,” Ghosh remarked. She added that areas with significant forest cover, like Rajokri, naturally have lower temperatures compared to neighbouring areas like Vasant Kunj.
Activist also stressed the importance of nurturing newly planted trees. “The trees need to be actual trees, not just shrubs and plants, although they are important too. The National Green Tribunal guidelines mandate that all road dividers must be green, but we often see them concretised. Lack of care means many plantations don’t survive. It’s crucial to maintain existing greenery rather than planting new trees for photo opportunities. As Delhi aims to enhance its green cover with this massive plantation drive, the focus must remain on equitable distribution and effective maintenance of green spaces to ensure long-term environmental benefits.
