The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is on the brink of completing its ambitious first-ever tree census, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at cataloguing and mapping the city’s vast urban greenery.
With meticulous attention to detail, horticulture officials have undertaken the task of counting and locating nearly 200,000 trees spread across Delhi’s 12 administrative zones. Preliminary findings from the census reveal intriguing insights into the distribution of trees throughout the city. Notably, Keshavpuram and South zones emerge as the frontrunners, boasting the highest number of trees at 64,383 and 43,810, respectively. Additionally, Karol Bagh stands out with 25,122 trees spanning 762 parks across 254 acres of land. Covering approximately 80% of the MCD’s jurisdictional area, the census primarily focuses on trees lining roadsides and gracing the city’s numerous parks. However, it’s important to note that the census excludes Delhi’s forests managed by the Forest Department and the verdant New Delhi district under the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).
To execute the census effectively, enumerators equipped with specialised mobile applications have traversed the capital, meticulously recording each tree’s precise geo-coordinates and assigning unique identification numbers. Despite initial projections for completion within 15 days, the sheer scale of the task has led to delays, with the project now expected to conclude within the next three to four weeks. A senior MCD official overseeing the census highlighted the challenges encountered during the process, particularly the time-consuming task of painting tree numbers. While significant progress has been made, reports from all zones are yet to be submitted, indicating that the project is nearing completion but requires a few more weeks to wrap up comprehensively. The tree census represents a landmark effort by the MCD to gain a comprehensive understanding of Delhi’s urban greenery landscape. By meticulously documenting and mapping trees across the city, authorities aim to inform strategic planning initiatives and ensure effective conservation and management of this vital natural resource for future generations.
