Pune NIBM Forest Project Expands Urban Green Cover

PUNE: A large-scale Miyawaki forest initiative is taking shape in the NIBM neighbourhood as residents, the Forest Department and civic authorities collaborate to restore degraded urban land with native tree species. Designed to improve biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and expand green cover, the project represents a growing shift towards community-led ecological restoration in one of Pune’s rapidly urbanising corridors.

The initiative is expected to establish nearly 30,000 native saplings over the coming years, potentially creating Pune’s third significant urban green belt after Taljai and Vetal hills. As residential development continues to reshape the city’s landscape, environmental experts believe such dense plantations can help offset the loss of natural habitats while improving air quality, reducing urban heat and supporting local biodiversity. Unlike conventional plantations, the Miyawaki forest follows a scientific afforestation technique that combines multiple native shrubs, understory vegetation and canopy trees within compact spaces. By replicating the layered structure of a natural forest, the method accelerates ecological succession, enabling vegetation to mature significantly faster while creating a dense and self-sustaining ecosystem within two to three decades.

Preparatory work for the project began several months before plantation activities commenced. Volunteers and officials first tested different indigenous species to identify varieties best suited to local soil and climatic conditions. These pilot efforts helped determine the composition of the larger plantation now being developed across the site. To improve long-term survival of the saplings, supporting infrastructure has also been created. A large water storage pond with a capacity of approximately 180,000 litres has been constructed with civic support to provide irrigation during dry periods, reducing stress on young plants during Pune’s prolonged summer months. Community participation has emerged as one of the defining features of the initiative. Around 150 volunteers are actively involved in maintaining the plantation, with teams coordinating daily watering schedules, monitoring plant health and undertaking routine maintenance. Digital communication platforms are being used to organise volunteer shifts, demonstrating how local communities are increasingly contributing to environmental stewardship beyond one-time plantation drives. Urban planners observe that citizen-led afforestation projects are becoming increasingly relevant as cities seek cost-effective climate adaptation measures. Native forests not only absorb carbon emissions but also improve groundwater recharge, moderate surface temperatures, enhance habitat connectivity and create healthier public spaces for surrounding communities.

Environmental specialists also emphasise that selecting indigenous tree species improves ecological resilience compared with ornamental plantations. Native vegetation supports birds, insects and pollinators while requiring comparatively lower maintenance after establishment. As Pune continues to balance urban expansion with environmental conservation, the NIBM initiative offers a model of collaborative urban greening where public agencies and residents share responsibility for restoring ecological assets. The project’s long-term success will depend on sustained maintenance, but if preserved, the emerging forest could become an important natural buffer supporting biodiversity, cleaner air and climate resilience for future generations.

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Pune NIBM Forest Project Expands Urban Green Cover