Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s open, moderate and dense forest cover shrunk by 61.22 sq km in 2023 compared to 2021, a Forest Survey of India (FSI) report shows. According to the report, the overall cover stood at 9,389.87 sq km in 2023. However, at 241.29 sq km, the cover outside Gujarat’s reserve forest area showed the maximum increase, followed by Bihar (106.85 sq km) and Kerala (95.19 sq km).
Officials said that land in reserve forest areas was diverted for industries and other development work. However, this land was compensated for at other locations, and hence, one sees a decline, especially in moderate and open forest areas which are situated near the sanctuary.
Officials said that the increase in tree cover outside the reserve forest area was because of a major plantation drive. Also, farmers and others were given trees that were four to five feet tall, hence their survival rate was higher. The social forestry department provided high-quality saplings, and the water and soil quality were suitable as a result of which, the tree cover outside the forest area has increased in central and South Gujarat, the officials said. The social forestry department signed a memorandum of understanding with an NGO for planting and caring for these trees for three years. Once fully grown, the forest department will take over their upkeep. This initiative was implemented on the Dwarka-Somnath highway and will now be done on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway.
Officials said the 2023 FSI report shows that 11.72% of the trees were in the dry tropical riverain forest area, while 9.49% cover was in the dry bamboo brakes. Also, the Rann Saline Thorn Forest accounted for 7.48% of the state’s total cover while the southern moist mixed deciduous forest accounted for 5.86%, followed by moist teak forest (4.65%).
The FSI report stated that Azadirachta indica (neem), Prosopis juliflora (gando baval), Mangifera indica (mango) and Peltophorum pterocarpum (yellow flame tree) were among the others.
Good growth, but city still behind
Ahmedabad: The city may have witnessed 5.48 sq km expansion in green cover, but this is only 3.27% of its digitised boundary. Ahmedabad’s green cover has grown from 9.41 sq km in 2021 to 14.89 in 2023, recording the highest gain during the period among the cities ranked. However, the emerging megacity is the second lowest among other megacities ranked in the FSI study. Kolkata’s green cover is only 1.10% of its area, while Delhi with 194.15% of its city limits has the highest.
The report states that according to United Nations’ criteria for urban agglomerations, a megacity has a population of 10 million or more.
Officials said Ahmedabad does not have any area classified as very dense forest, but has only 1.73 sq km as moderate forest, which is on the city’s boundaries, particularly towards the western part. This has increased by just 0.14 sq. km.
Dev Choudhary, deputu municipal commissioner, parks and gardens, said, “Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is also conducting an internal survey on the city’s green cover, Our report will be ready by Jan. We have also realised that the green cover is increasing, especially in the North-West zone, which includes Bodakdev, Thaltej, Ghatlodia, Chandlodia, Vastrapur and Gota, among others.” He said that the city, for six years, has seen an extensive greening drive, with the target this year being 3 million trees. Choudhary said AMC is also working on a green policy, adding that the concept of urban forests based on Miyawaki technology has reaped good results.
Officials said that land in reserve forest areas was diverted for industries and other development work. However, this land was compensated for at other locations, and hence, one sees a decline, especially in moderate and open forest areas which are situated near the sanctuary.
Officials said that the increase in tree cover outside the reserve forest area was because of a major plantation drive. Also, farmers and others were given trees that were four to five feet tall, hence their survival rate was higher. The social forestry department provided high-quality saplings, and the water and soil quality were suitable as a result of which, the tree cover outside the forest area has increased in central and South Gujarat, the officials said. The social forestry department signed a memorandum of understanding with an NGO for planting and caring for these trees for three years. Once fully grown, the forest department will take over their upkeep. This initiative was implemented on the Dwarka-Somnath highway and will now be done on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway.
Officials said the 2023 FSI report shows that 11.72% of the trees were in the dry tropical riverain forest area, while 9.49% cover was in the dry bamboo brakes. Also, the Rann Saline Thorn Forest accounted for 7.48% of the state’s total cover while the southern moist mixed deciduous forest accounted for 5.86%, followed by moist teak forest (4.65%).
The FSI report stated that Azadirachta indica (neem), Prosopis juliflora (gando baval), Mangifera indica (mango) and Peltophorum pterocarpum (yellow flame tree) were among the others.
Good growth, but city still behind
Ahmedabad: The city may have witnessed 5.48 sq km expansion in green cover, but this is only 3.27% of its digitised boundary. Ahmedabad’s green cover has grown from 9.41 sq km in 2021 to 14.89 in 2023, recording the highest gain during the period among the cities ranked. However, the emerging megacity is the second lowest among other megacities ranked in the FSI study. Kolkata’s green cover is only 1.10% of its area, while Delhi with 194.15% of its city limits has the highest.
The report states that according to United Nations’ criteria for urban agglomerations, a megacity has a population of 10 million or more.
Officials said Ahmedabad does not have any area classified as very dense forest, but has only 1.73 sq km as moderate forest, which is on the city’s boundaries, particularly towards the western part. This has increased by just 0.14 sq. km.
Dev Choudhary, deputu municipal commissioner, parks and gardens, said, “Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is also conducting an internal survey on the city’s green cover, Our report will be ready by Jan. We have also realised that the green cover is increasing, especially in the North-West zone, which includes Bodakdev, Thaltej, Ghatlodia, Chandlodia, Vastrapur and Gota, among others.” He said that the city, for six years, has seen an extensive greening drive, with the target this year being 3 million trees. Choudhary said AMC is also working on a green policy, adding that the concept of urban forests based on Miyawaki technology has reaped good results.