25
Tree cover
The satellite imageries of different times were
analyzed by the GIS Centre under Working Plan
Wing of Gujarat Forest Department. Tree cover
in Gandhinagar in different years is given in
Table-2. It shows that the overall tree cover in
Gandhinagar Capital Project area has increased
from 1,993 ha to 3,256 ha between 1979 and
2005 but then declined marginally to 3,075 ha in
2011 due to the cutting of trees in certain areas
to facilitate development.
Tree cover was very poor in the beginning of
1970s. Plantation drives have contributed to
consistent improvement in greenery of the city
and the cover improved to 1993.1 ha in 1979.
Table-11: Status of tree cover in Gandhinagar Capital Project Area
Sr. No.
Year
Tree Cover Category
Dense tree cover
Open tree cover
Total
1
1979
0769.6 (13.5%)
1223.5 (21.5%)
1993.1 (35.0%)
2
1986
1146.3 (20.1%)
1265.5 (22.2%)
2411.8 (42.3%)
3
1999
2126.0 (37.3%)
0912.9 (16.0%)
3038.9 (53.3%)
4
2005
2427.0 (42.6%)
0829.2 (14.6%)
3256.2 (57.1%)
5
2011
2073.7 (36.3%)
1002.1 (17.6%)
3074.7 (53.9%)
Note :
Area in ha., percentage of total geographical area is given in the brackets
.
Table-10: Cutting of trees in Gandhinagar
Year
Cutting of trees to facilitate development
Total
For development
Dead and fallen trees
Illegal cutting
2001-02
8,737
5,650
78
14,465
2002-03
3,972
17,879
374
22,215
2003-04
4,897
9,487
359
14,743
2004-05
2,875
4,153
139
7,167
2005-06
6,818
2,004
188
9,010
2006-07
12,682
4,601
74
17,357
2007-08
10,568
2,117
28
12,713
2008-09
9,583
2,328
58
11,769
2009-10
19,934
2,309
28
22,271
2010-11
2,914
5,039
140
8,093
Total
82,970
55,567
1,466
140,003
A total of 1.40 lakh trees were removed during the last ten years at an average annual rate of 14,000 trees.
The dense tree cover estimated about 769.6 ha
(about 13.5% of the total area-5,700 ha of the
capital project) in 1979, increased consistently to
2126 ha in 1999 and then to 2427.0 ha. In 2005,
reflecting a drastic increase due to afforestation
drive. The area under open tree cover was
1223.5 ha in 1979. With progress of plantations,
open areas first changed to open tree cover and
then to dense tree cover over a period. Thus,
with development of plantations, a large part of
this has been transformed into dense tree cover.
In all, tree cover in Gandhinagar Capital Project
Area has increased consistently from 1993.1 ha
in 1979 to 3256.2 ha in 2005. The developments
of offices, institutions, and road widening have
