13
in 2009,
Pawak Van
at Palitana in 2010, and
Virasat Van
at Pawagadh in 2011. To connect
people with plantation and protection of trees
various cultural forests such as
Nakshatra Van,
Rashi Van, Panchavati, Ashok Van, Dhanvantri
Van, Smruti Van
etc. have been created at
the sites. These cultural forests have become
important recreational and educational areas
for people and add environmental values to the
urban area. Urban Authorities also established
such forest at several sites.
6. Tree counting in Urban Areas in Gujarat
The State government has constituted 8
Municipal Corporations, 6 Urban Development
Authorities, 10 Area Development Authorities
and 159 Municipalities. Also, 99 Municipalities
are designated as area development authorities
as well as 15
Gram Panchayats
are also
designated as area development authorities
for planning urban development in the state
(Department of Urban Development, 2011).
Tree survey to estimate tree population in the
rural areas, outside the forests in Gujarat were
done in 2003 and 2009, but no such assessment
was done for the urban areas-cities and towns
in the state. First time tree counting in all
Mahanagar Palikas
(Municipal Corporations)
Some old houses has very good tree cover
areas and
Nagar Palikas
(Municipalities) areas
was done in 2011 by the Social Forestry Wing
of the Gujarat Forest Department with active
participation of local institutions. The tree cover
has also been estimated for the villages around
the municipal corporations in the area of urban
development authorities. The tree cover has
been assessed in Gandhinagar at intervals. The
objectives of the urban tree census were as
follows.
(i) To estimate the total number of trees and
status of tree cover in the urban areas in
the state.
(ii) To create a baseline information to monitor
trend of tree cover in different cities in the
state.
(iii) To find out the preferences of tree species
in urban areas in different zone and also to
use such information for planning urban
forestry.
(iv) To assess changes/progress in tree cover in
future.
(v) To assess Carbon store and also scope of
Carbon sequestration in the urban areas.
(v) To develop plan for improving environment
of the cities and towns.
