14
7. Planning and Methodology
As discussed above, tree counting was done
in the rural area but such exercise was never
done in the urban areas in the past. To
assess the present tree cover and the status
of environment, it is necessary to estimate
population of different tree species in the cities
and towns. Such exercises were done in the
western countries, including USA to monitor
the environment of the major cities. The Social
Forestry Wing of Gujarat Forest Department
joined hands with Urban Department to
plant trees in cities and towns in Gujarat.
Subsequently the Social Forestry Wing of the
department decided in the late 2010 to conduct
total tree counting in all municipal corporations
and municipalities in Gujarat State. For future
planning, the areas under urban development
authorities of the Municipal Corporations were
also included to estimate the tree population.
Within boundaries of municipal corporations
(
Mahanagar Palikas
) and municipalities
(
Nagarpalikas
), all trees standing in the parks
and garden; compounds of school, colleges and
institution; along streets and roads; cantonment
area; forest lands; individual premises and any
other such areas were counted. In other words,
hundred percent enumeration of trees was done
in different diameter classes within boundaries
of the
Mahanagar Palikas
and
Nagarpalikas.
In
the area of Urban Development Authority, tree
counting was done in randomly selected villages
and the data was projected to estimate the tree
population. The first planning for tree counting
in urban areas of Gujarat was done in the late
2010 and enumerations were completed during
the year, 2011, and verification of counting was
done in the late 2011 and also in January 2012.
Social Forestry Wing of the Forest Department
planned and coordinated tree census in the
urban areas in the state. The regional heads of
the social forestry circles had coordinated tree
counting in the circles (zones). The counting
in cities at district level was organized and
conducted by the Dy Conservator of Forests,
Social Forestry whereas Assistant Conservator
of Forest and Range Forest Officers coordinated
and conducted tree counting in municipalities
(
Nagarpalikas
). The teams for each
Mahanagar
Palikas
and
Nagarpalikas
were constituted
and they were guided and trained about the
methodology to count and measure the girth
of the trees. In this counting, the trees having
girth at breast height (GBH) above 10 cm were
counted. In certain cities, municipalities and
educational institutions also joined hands
with the forest department in this exercise. In
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation area, the
Forest Department counted trees in cantonment
and other areas, teachers and students
organised counting in the compounds of schools
and institutions, and park warden department of
the Municipal Corporation counted in parks and
other such areas. In Ahmedabad, the Municipal
Corporation collected data and compiled
result. But in other municipal corporations and
municipalities, the Social Forestry Divisions
analysed data and prepared the tree census
report. In this census, trees of each species
were counted in the eleven girth classes (10 to
30 cm, 30
+
to 45 cm, 45
+
to 60 cm, 60
+
to 75 , 75
+
to 90 cm, 90
+
to 120 cm, 120
+
to 150 cm, 150
+
to 200cm, 200
+
to 250 cm. 250
+
to 300 cm and
above 300 cm.). Tall sapling, even more than
two meter, having GBH less than 10 cmwere not
counted.
Tree cover in Gandhinagar was also assessed
using remote sensing data. The results of tree
cover and tree population in Gandhinagar
helped to develop an equation between tree
cover and number of trees.
