Forest dept embarks on survey to count trees

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Gurgaon forest department, in collaboration with the regional office of the Forest Survey of India in Shimla, is conducting a survey in the city to count the number of trees growing outside forest areas.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Gurgaon forest department, in collaboration with the regional office of the Forest Survey of India in Shimla, is conducting a survey in the city to count the number of trees growing outside forest areas.

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“The survey started in February this year. The plan is to cover entire Haryana, but it has started from the South Circle,” said Pankaj Goel, conservator of forest, Gurgaon.

The survey was launched in five districts of Gurgaon, Mewat, Mahendergarh, Faridabad and Palwal, of which Mewat and Mahendergarh have been covered.

“It will take six months to cover the entire South Circle. For now, only Mewat and Mahendergarh have been completed. The report will be ready in six months,” added Goel.

Recently, several trees have been felled in the city thanks to developmental and infrastructure projects. Massive encroachment and illegal constructions in protected forest areas and green belts of the city also lead to the depletion of green cover in Gurgaon.

“Through this survey we will be able to know exactly how much tree cover has depleted and where,” explained Goel.