Mangaluru’s Green Revival: Citizens, Saplings, and Smart Tech Join Forces
In a powerful move toward environmental restoration, the citizen-driven Amara (Prakrutiye Pragati) initiative was launched on April 21, 2025, to combat Mangaluru’s declining urban greenery. Based on the Tree Count Report–Mangaluru 2023 by Nitte (Deemed to be) University, only 6.24% of public land in the city hosts tree cover, while 35.66% exists on private properties.
To reverse this, the project plans to plant 30,000 saplings across 60 wards during the upcoming monsoon, alongside 50,000 to 100,000 mangrove saplings to bolster coastal ecosystems. Citizens and institutions are encouraged to adopt saplings through the integrated Mangaluru Smart City app, with each plant geo-tagged and regularly monitored for health and growth.
The app, which has mapped 19,872 trees, currently records 21 adoptions. Users can choose their ward, select trees or saplings for adoption, and track their development—fostering transparency and civic engagement.
The urgency is underscored by rising local temperatures: from an average 32.2°C in 2014 to 32.95°C in 2022, largely due to shrinking green spaces and expanding concrete zones.
Key dates for the initiative include:
- April 30 – Last date for ward-level adoption
- May 15 – Finalization of planting sites
- June 5 (World Environment Day) – Launch of plantation drives
- August 15 – Public audit report release
By blending community participation with technology, Mangaluru is paving the way for climate-resilient urban planning and a greener tomorrow.
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