Mysuru: A citizen-led urban tree enumeration exercise, ‘Nammara – Tree Census’, has documented 1,21,789 roadside trees across the 65 wards of Mysuru city, according to its preliminary findings. The initiative is being hailed as a significant step towards understanding and preserving the city’s green cover amid increasing concerns over tree felling and rapid urbanisation.
The exercise, undertaken with the participation of volunteers and environmental enthusiasts, aims to create a comprehensive database of urban trees and provide scientific information for future planning and conservation efforts.
Mapping Mysuru’s urban green cover
The preliminary report has identified 1,21,789 trees located along roadsides in various parts of the city. The data is expected to help authorities and environmental groups better understand the distribution, density and diversity of trees in Mysuru.
Urban tree censuses are increasingly being viewed as essential tools for city planning, as they provide information on the ecological services offered by trees, including temperature regulation, carbon absorption and improvement of air quality.
Environmentalists have often described Mysuru as one of Karnataka’s greener cities, with its tree-lined avenues contributing significantly to the city’s identity and liveability.
Citizen participation at the heart of the initiative
The ‘Nammara – Tree Census’ initiative stands out for its citizen-led approach, with volunteers taking part in identifying and documenting trees across the city.
Such exercises not only generate valuable environmental data but also create awareness among residents about the importance of protecting urban greenery.
The exercise comes at a time when concerns over the loss of trees due to infrastructure projects and urban expansion have become increasingly prominent in Mysuru. Environmental groups and residents have frequently voiced opposition to indiscriminate tree felling and have called for stronger conservation measures.
Data expected to aid urban planning
Experts believe the census findings could assist government agencies and civic bodies in planning road projects, development works and conservation initiatives without adversely affecting the city’s green cover.
The data may also help identify areas with inadequate tree cover and facilitate future plantation drives.
Mysuru has witnessed several initiatives aimed at preserving and expanding its urban greenery, including plantation programmes and efforts to replace trees lost due to development activities.
Need for long-term conservation strategy
Environmentalists have emphasised that documenting trees is only the first step and that the information gathered should be integrated into long-term urban planning and conservation policies.
They have called for regular updates to the tree census and the adoption of measures to protect mature trees that form an integral part of Mysuru’s ecological and cultural landscape.
The preliminary findings of the ‘Nammara – Tree Census’ are expected to contribute to discussions on sustainable urban development and reinforce the importance of balancing infrastructure growth with environmental conservation.