This time the exercise will
include identification of the species of flora (26
The Tree Authority, a
statutory authority set up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC), is planning to issue tenders inviting NGOs
and volunteers to count the city’s trees. Apart from the
counting the trees in the city, the exercise would also
identify their species. The last tree census was conducted
five years ago.
According to the last census, there were
around 5,24,000 trees in the city’s municipal limits. “A
large number of trees have been planted since then. But many
trees have been cut down in building and road-widening
projects,” said Madhu Sawant, member of the Tree Authority.
Every year during the monsoons, the BMC
plants at least a lakh saplings on the city’s gardens and
roads. However, there has been no attempt to find out how many
of these saplings actually survive after the rains. The
earlier trees census were carried out by students. This time,
the BMC plans to involve NGOs like Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS) in the process to make it more authentic.
The increased construction and road-widening activity in the
city has destroyed thousands of trees. Though the Tree has to
give permission for tree-felling in the city, it has been
largely ineffective in preventing illegal cutting of trees.
The census will create a database on the city’s trees,
including the species diversity and their health. Beena Menon,
member of the National Organisation of the Friends of Trees
said that to find the truth about Mumbai’s vanishing green
cover, trees in the Borivali National Park should be left out
of the census. “The national park is a special area and if
trees in the park are included in the census, it will give a
misleading picture of the city’s green cover,” she said.
According to the last census,
there were around 5,24,000 trees in the city’s municipal
limits.
Publication:Mumbai Mirror;
Date: Dec 13, 2005; Section:City; Page Number:8
http://epaperarchive.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=TU1JUi8yMDA1LzEyLzEzI0FyMDA4MDE=
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Response to BMC asks NGOs to help count trees
Measurement/census should include both the national park and
the city under 2 different heads. Without measurement there
can be no progress or analysis of any measures taken by the
tree authority to improve tree cover. Measurement is the
only way people can know what system (tree authority) is
working and how well its working.
The audit/census has to be carried out by ngos. The tree
authority cannot be the judge and the thief at the same
time. It should have
transparency in its working but first funds earmarked for
the tender must be given to responsible ngos/activists who
can make an action plan beyond the one time census to
involve periodic review and pulling up of the tree
authority.
What cannot be measured cannot be improved. Even after the
measurement is over, the data will remain in the hands of
the govt (that is the way govt works and hoards power by
limiting the flow of information)
Kussh
December 14, 2005
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