The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has undertaken a comprehensive tree census across its jurisdiction, revealing a substantial count of 2.5 lakh trees spread across 80 wards of Bengaluru. This ambitious initiative, which commenced in January and faced several logistical challenges, is aimed at accurately assessing the city’s tree cover and planning future environmental conservation efforts accordingly.
According officials, the census is being executed by two agencies entrusted with the task of cataloguing each tree within designated wards. Technical glitches and adverse weather conditions, including extreme heat and recent rains, have necessitated an extension of the census deadline beyond its original August target. The enumeration process involves the meticulous painting of identification codes on each tree, alongside inputting essential details such as girth, location, and botanical classification into dedicated software systems. This data collection method not only facilitates the accurate assessment of Bengaluru’s tree population but also enables the automatic identification of local and botanical names associated with each recorded tree. The member involved in the census, highlighted the operational challenges faced during the project, including software malfunctions and weather-related interruptions. Despite these hurdles, significant progress has been made in wards such as Hanumantha Nagar, Srinagar, Gali Anjaneya Temple, Girinagar, and Kathriguppe, where over 30,000 trees have already been comprehensively surveyed and documented.
Officials emphasized the importance of this census in enhancing the city’s understanding of its green infrastructure. The data collected will serve as a vital resource for BBMP to strategize future tree plantation drives and conservation initiatives tailored to specific areas based on identified needs and gaps in tree cover. “Bengaluru, often hailed as the Garden City, is undergoing a critical phase of environmental assessment with this tree census. By extending the survey to include private lands, BBMP aims to achieve a comprehensive overview of the city’s arboreal landscape,” stated officials. Moving forward, the insights gleaned from this extensive tree census will empower BBMP to make informed decisions regarding urban forestry management, thereby fostering sustainable development practices and preserving Bengaluru’s green heritage for future generations.
