Government ready with action plan for tree census in Delhi

An action plan for the first-ever tree census in the Capital is ready. The government has identified areas where the census will be carried out, besides detailing its method, database and analysis mechanism. Darpan Singh reports.

An action plan for the first-ever tree census in the Capital is ready.

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The government has identified areas where the census will be carried out, besides detailing its method, database and analysis mechanism.

The census will help to protect and add to the urban green cover, a critical component in the face of growing pollution. Corporate houses will be asked to adopt forests or parks."Through this census, we will get to know the types of trees and their location-wise distribution. This will help us in eco-restoration and development of green belts and city forests. We will know which trees to promote and which ones to discourage," said a senior government official.

The census will be carried out in colonies, wards, educational institutions, farms, bungalows, markets, city forests, forests, ridges, along roads, the Yamuna, drains, railway tracks, besides on gram sabha lands. The quantum of shrubs, herbs, hedges and grasses will be determined.

"We will use technologies such as the geographic information system (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS). We will take photographs of trees and note their health status with help from technical agencies, societies, NGOs and eco clubs," he said.