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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
‘Amara' green drive starts on World Environment Day
Mangaluru: A city-wide plantation campaign under the 'Amara' banner started at the new DC office premises on the occasion of World Environment Day on Thursday. Deputy commissioner and Zilla Panchayat CEO Anandh K inaugurated the programme by planting a tree in the DC office premises. Anandh said that under the leadership of Prof Smitha Hegde, environmental enthusiasts organised a campaign named 'Amara', where various organisations in the district identified suitable areas for planting and nurturing trees. He noted that with the onset of the rainy season, the climate is ideal for planting trees. He noted that the increasing exploitation of nature is damaging the environment and affecting daily lives. Hence, there is a need to increase the greenery on Earth, he said. Deputy conservator of forests Anthony S Mariyappa said that in Dakshina Kannada forest area, 5 lakh trees are planted annually. This year, the forest department is distributing 1 lakh saplings through various organisations for planting in different locations. He highlighted that every year, millions of trees are cut down for various development projects. In response, the forest department undertakes tree planting activities. For the development of the road between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, about 1,39,000 trees were cut down over an area of approximately 100 acres. He emphasised that while development is important, it is our responsibility to maintain ecological balance by planting and nurturing trees. Prof Smitha Hegde, director of research at CFAL and a key figure in the 'Amara' campaign, said that under the 'Amara' initiative, the goal is to plant 10,000 trees in the Dakshina Kannada by August this year. With the cooperation of various organisations, 4,500 locations have already been identified. Trees will be planted along the road from Baliga Stores in the city to the airport road, while 350 trees will be planted in the DC office premises. The focus is on planting fruit trees like jackfruit, mango, and breadfruit that grow locally, she said. The event was attended by additional deputy commissioner Santhosh Kumar G, Mangaluru City Corporation commissioner Ravichandra Nayak, deputy director of the animal husbandry department Dr Arun Kumar Shetty, environmental enthusiast Jeeth Milan Roche, and key members of various environmental organisations.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Amara app launched to restore Mangaluru's green cover
Mangaluru: As part of the Amara (Prakrutiye Pragati) Plant a Tree, Adopt a Tree initiative aimed at reviving Mangaluru's dwindling green cover, the Amara app was launched on Monday at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). The app has been integrated with the Mangaluru Smart City app and is expected to go live late evening. The initiative draws on data from the Tree Count Survey 2023 led by Prof Smitha Hegde, director of research at CFAL, which found that only 6.2% of public space in Mangaluru is covered by greenery. The app, developed based on this data, has mapped 19,872 trees across the city's 50 MCC wards, of which 20 have been adopted so far. The city has about 244 different tree species, with copper pod and Indian almond dominating. Each tree listed on the app carries a unique ID with details including common and scientific names, girth (cm), diameter and height (in inches and feet), and the type of pavement surface, bitumen or concrete. Users can register via the app to adopt and monitor trees, and a register will be maintained for follow-ups. Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP said the initiative aims to build public ownership of urban greenery . "Every tree will be geo-tagged and monitored. Individuals and organisations can choose their preferred ward and contribute," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Prof Hegde stressed the urgency of climate action , especially for coastal cities like Mangaluru facing rising temperatures and irregular rainfall. "Tree-lined avenues can reduce temperatures by at least 4-5°C during summer. This public-private-govt collaboration will help in data-driven urban planning. Further, to protect the coastlines and diversity one lakh mangroves will be planted," she said. While plantation drives will begin on June 5-World Environment Day, a public audit report is likely to be released on Aug 15. Each ward will see at least 500 trees being planted, with each team requiring a minimum of 10 volunteers and a coordinator. In case multiple groups opt for the same ward, alternatives will be assigned. Gurudutta Shenoy, managing partner of Vertex Workspace, during the inaugural, not only registered but also adopted a Pride of India tree at Kapikad.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Citizen-led initiative to increase green cover to 30% by 2040 in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: In a collaboration between citizens, the govt, and educators, Amara (Prakrutiye Pragati) - plant a tree , adopt a tree - a movement to restore Mangaluru's green cover, revive public participation, and build a model for cities across India, was inaugurated on Monday. The initiative is led by deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP, in partnership with the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), zilla panchayat, forest department, education department, and the Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL). With the support of apartment associations, civic groups, schools, and students, the city will plant 30,000 trees across 60 wards and over a lakh mangroves along its vulnerable coastline. Following the launch, wards are expected to be adopted by April 30, tree planting locations will be identified by May 15, and on World Environment Day, the distribution and plantation drive will be launched. An audit and monitoring will be held by Aug 15. The movement began with deep groundwork. In 2023, under the leadership of Prof Smitha Hegde, director of Research at CFAL, an extensive Tree Count Survey was conducted across Mangaluru. Every tree in public spaces was identified, geotagged, and measured to map biodiversity, heat sinks, and gaps in green cover. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo Muhilan said that with Mangaluru's trees already mapped and the city's public green cover at just 6.2%, the goal is to increase it to 30% by 2040. As a first step, citizens are encouraged to adopt existing trees, and the next phase involves identifying new plantation sites that will be verified by the corporation and other development departments. The initiative, he said, aims to transform Mangaluru into one of the most liveable cities in the country, but success depends on active community participation. He urged individuals and organisations to enrol and support the campaign. Smitha said that native varieties will be selected with careful consideration of aesthetic appeal. "We will also consider what species are best suited for road medians," she added. MP Captain Brijesh Chowta said the initiative should serve as a model for the rest of the country, emphasising the urgent need to protect the environment for future generations. "We must integrate ideas with action, as working in isolation is no longer effective," he said. Chowta also called for a deeper understanding of the reasons behind the decline in Mangaluru's green cover. As part of the ongoing effort, he plans to introduce and align the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign with the current drive and will soon hold discussions with the concerned. Deputy conservator of forests Anthony S Mariyappa, MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik, and others were present. Saplings were planted in the MCC premises as part of the inaugural. The department of education, forest department, Lions Club, Rotary Club, KSPCB, CREDAI, and NGOs will be part of it.
