Message
Green space and adequate area under tree cover is essential to maintain environment of the cities
and towns. Urban areas do not have only local environmental impacts but also large ecological
footprints. Although tree plantation has been done on a large scale in the urban areas, it may not be
adequate to meet the growing need of trees in the expanding urban areas. There is a need to raise
large scale successful tree plantations by planting tall seedlings to address growing environmental
problems in the cities. To assess tree cover and also to design appropriate urban forestry programme,
the Social Forestry Wing of the Gujarat Forest Department estimated tree cover in all municipal
corporations and municipalities, and is bringing out a report on Status of Tree Cover in the Urban
Areas in Gujarat State. The result provides valuable observations. The data from this survey shall
help in developing strategy and action plan to meet the requirement of tree cover in urban areas of
Gujarat. I congratulate the officers of the Social Forestry Wing of the Forest Department who have
taken pain to carry out such exercise in all cities and towns and have prepared an outstanding report.
Kiritsinh Rana
Minister of State,
Forests & Environment, Gujarat State
