Green Surge: Navi Mumbai's Tree Population Soars By 78% In Just 8 Years

In the recent tree census conducted by Ornet Technologies Pvt Ltd for the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), a total of 15,28,779 trees were revealed to exist in the city, marking a significant 78% increase over the past eight years compared to the previous census in 2015, which recorded 8,57,295 trees.

The census, which took place between December 2023 and May this year and cost approximately ₹3 crore, was delayed due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Navi Mumbai's Tree Population Soars By 78%

The data indicates that Indigenous trees predominate, with 11,43,937 native species such as kaduneem, bor, amba, peepal, vad, and umber identified. Additionally, there are 3,84,842 non-indigenous trees like gulmohar, sonmohar, vilayati babul, foxtail palm, vilayati chinch, and royal palm. Among the tree population, 1,638 heritage trees were identified, representing 216 species, including 126 native and 90 exotic species. A staggering 99.2% of the trees, totalling 15,15,955, were found to be in good health, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The city's dominant tree species include Sag (Teak), Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala), Gulmohar (Delonix regia), Sonmohar (Peltophorum pterocarpum), and Asupalav (Polyalthia longifolia). Vegetable trees such as Shevga (Drumstick) are prevalent, while common fruiting trees include Bor (Ziziphus mauritiana), Naral (Coconut), and Amba (Mango).

According to NMMC deputy municipal commissioner (Garden) Dilip Nerkar, the tree census focused on trees with a girth of 10 cm or more and a height exceeding 3 meters, as reported by Hindustan Times. The data was mapped using GIS/GPS technology and manual efforts, aligned with the satellite imagery of NMMC. This initiative also included the development of a web application for tree-cutting and pruning activities, alongside a web portal for managing the collected data.

Nerkar highlighted that the report commends Navi Mumbai's efforts in preserving and enhancing its green cover, promoting a balance between flora and fauna, and fostering a healthier urban environment. He emphasized that Navi Mumbai serves as a model for integrating nature into urban planning, thereby promoting harmony between humans and the natural world, as per media reports.

Tree activist Aba Ranware underscored the importance of increasing the proportion of indigenous trees, noting the current dominance of exotic species. Ranware stressed that while species like Subabul and Gulmohar are favoured for their rapid growth and aesthetic appeal, they do not offer the same ecological benefits as native species. Ranware advocated for planting more indigenous trees to improve ecological balance and urban sustainability, enhancing biodiversity and environmental resilience.