The Karnataka Forest Department has mobilised over 1.5 crore native saplings across 16 nurseries in coastal districts, launching an unprecedented drive to restore green cover in urban, rural, and Western Ghats stretches on the seaside face. This initiative responds to significant tree loss from major infrastructure developments—including the Nethravathi diversion, three national highways, power lines, and petroleum and chemical corridors.
The replanting effort goes well beyond compensatory afforestation, aiming instead for a four-to-one sapling-to-loss ratio, with special emphasis on previously deforested areas. Saplings will be deployed via multiple channels: at least 5 percent are earmarked as CSR contributions by local industries—MRPL, OMPL, SEZ units, UPCL and coastal ports, as well as institutional stakeholders like the Navy and NPCIL at Kaiga. A further 7–8 percent will be planted through the Koti Vriksha scheme in schools and educational institutions, with the remainder handled by the department across reserve forests, wildlife divisions, national parks and Ghats pockets in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kodagu.
Forest officers report that local and endemic species—flowering, canopy, fruit-bearing and shade providers—have been carefully selected. Nurseries in each of the 16 forest ranges supply species like Kakke, Holay Dasavala, blueberry (Nerale), Rosi Owlanda, Ashoka, jack, wild jack and Mango, Mahogany, Peepul and wild fig. Tapping into the region’s biodiversity hotspot, the drive aligns with World Environment Day, acknowledging the Western Ghats among the planet’s 18 richest biodiversity zones. It’s a declaration that environmental conservation can coexist with urban and infrastructure growth.
Across coastal reserves—Kanakamajalu, Kannadka and Periyabaney—over 75 hectares have been prepared for bamboo and cane plantations. Bamboo, prized for soil conservation and wildlife habitat, also has commercial promise. Kanakamajalu alone holds 2,75,000 endemic saplings, with 40,000 reserved for public distribution. This coastal reforestation reflects a wider state-level push: Karnataka plans to plant 25 crore saplings over five years (5 crore annually), aiming to boost its green cover from around 20 percent towards the 33 percent target. In 2023 alone, over 5.4 crore were planted, with survival audits underway. Public accountability features heavily too: sapling counts, geo-tagging and survival metrics will be rigorously monitored with audits mandated by the Forest Minister.
Societal benefits are manifold. Native planting bolsters climate resilience, soil stability, groundwater recharge and wildlife corridors—critical for ecological equilibrium. Inclusive public engagement through schools, NGOs and CSR ensures the effort remains gender-neutral and equitable at scale. Strategic seed distribution empowers local communities while conservation efforts rebuild nature across both urban pockets and remote hillside zones. However, challenges lie ahead. Maintaining high survival rates in coastal terrain demands effective water management and protection from grazing—lessons drawn from Bengaluru’s varied sapling survival rates (70–90 percent) underline the need for diligent post-plantation oversight.
Furthermore, sustaining infrastructure development while preserving endemic biodiversity will require continued vigilance—as seen in past forest-to-park conversions—and community-led forest management. Mangaluru’s drive represents a transformative model for eco-urban and regional greening. A coastal response to past degradation, it integrates environmental restitution with social inclusion, biodiversity preservation and climate adaptation—highlighting how collective action, backed by institutions and the public, can truly green the Western Ghats for future generations.
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