Message
The most explosive urban growth is expected in some of the Asian region, particularly, in Gujarat
where about half of the State population may live in the cities and towns in the next decade. As
bulk of human population shifts from rural to urban areas, paucity of the green space is becoming
an increasingly urban phenomenon. Urban areas in the developing countries have multi-faceted
problems like paucity of safe water, inadequate waste management, pollution, occupation and
degradation of sensitive lands, flooding, poor oxygen level, poor tree cover and inadequate green
cover. The urbanization has variety of impacts: conversion of agricultural or tree cover lands for
urban uses and infrastructure, pollution or reclaiming of wetlands, increasing impervious cover on
earth surface, and excavation of sand and loss of trees. To improve health of urban environment,
campaign for improving tree cover is unavoidable in the cities and towns.
Gujarat has already taken lead in the environmental front and greening urban areas is one of such
initiative. Tree plantation in campaign mode has been taken up in several cities like Ahmedabad,
Surat and Vadodara but its success has been debated. Thus, it is necessary to take up certain
necessary measures like proper planning, plantation of tall seedlings of suitable species, adequate
caring and protection measures to achieve higher success rate. Also, there was a need to generate
adequate information about the status of trees in the urban areas of Gujarat. Initiative of the Forest
Department to assess tree cover in cities and towns and publication of a report on Status of Tree
Cover in the Urban Areas in Gujarat State is appreciable, as this document may lay a sound foundation
for developing action plan to green growing urban areas in Gujarat State.
Dr. S. K. Nanda, IAS
Principal Secretary,
Forests and Environment Department,
Gujarat State
