Mumbai: Mumbai observed World Environment Day on June 5 with tree plantations, workshops, and meetings to promote afforestation as one of the solutions to climate change.
Residents of Bandra joined a tree plantation and cleanup programme at the Carter Road promenade on Thursday morning. Volunteers joined Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's garden department officials on a walk along the road to survey the damage on the street.
"The road is in complete disrepair. There are broken metal seats that are dangerous to passersby. Instead of ornamental palms, we suggested the garden department plant flowering and shady trees in the open spaces along the promenade. They have agreed. We will continue to work together to beautify our open spaces with their cooperation," said Sanjeev D'Souza, AGNI, H West ward coordinator.
Tree plantation drive at Bandra's Carter Road promenade | File Photo
Aahwahan Foundation, a non-profit organisation, launched a global tree plantation drive that aims to plant over 100,000 trees across seven countries, including India, in 30 days. Schools, universities, businesses, and communities worldwide are part of the programme. Participants can organise local tree-planting events, contribute to reforestation projects, or support the campaign through donations and partnerships. “Protecting our planet is a shared responsibility," said Braja Kishore Pradhan, founder and CEO of Aahwahan Foundation.
SYNJUK and SnehaKunja Trust have planted over 5,00,000 trees, bringing their cumulative total to 1.5 million. This includes mangrove restoration in Kumta and urban afforestation in Pune. The projects, with help from corporate houses, aim to develop environmental solutions beyond simple carbon offsetting.
The programme collaborates with local communities and non-profit organisations to create environmental projects suited to the unique needs of each region, integrating sustainable farming practices to enhance long-term impact.
The Bombay Catholic Sabha Environment forum will be having a seminar entitled 'Living the Climate Crisis: Acting Now for Mumbai’s Future', on Sunday, June 8, at St Michael's Church Hall, Mahim.
The speaker, Myron Mendes, is the National Facilitator for the Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change. Mumbai March will mark the day with a tree plantation and cleanup drive at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, on June 8.
Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority has asked its officers to identify plots in the Mumbai region where no construction or development is possible, to create dense urban forests using the Miyawaki method.
During Van Mahotsav week from July 1 to 7, MHADA will undertake plantation of approximately two lakh saplings across the state. Out of these, 50,000 saplings will be planted in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, said Sanjeev Jaiswal, vice president and Chief Executive Officer, MHADA.
Jaiswal said that the Japanese Miyawaki method, which involves dense planting of local trees in small plots to create urban forests, is considered effective in increasing biodiversity. He advised that only environment-friendly tree species should be selected for the plantation.
He also said that the long-term maintenance of the saplings should be assigned to the respective housing societies so that the tree plantation effort becomes a sustainable initiative and not just a one-time campaign. All saplings planted will be geo-tagged.
