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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
40k trees, mangroves planted under Amara Drive
Mangaluru: The Amara (Prakrutiye Pragati) drive, a "plant and adopt a tree" initiative launched on World Environment Day, has already added nearly 40,000 plants to the city's landscape, including 11,000 trees and shrubs and around 30,000 mangroves. The plantation drive is still in progress, and the aim is to reach 50,000 by the end of this month. Led by the district administration, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Karnataka forest department, and CFAL Research Centre, Amara aims to restore the city's green cover, revive public participation, and serve as a model for urban reforestation across India. The campaign is led by Vijay Moras, CFAL trustee, and Prof Smitha Hegde, director of research, along with the CFAL and ELC staff, students, and teams. "It is citizen-driven and welcomes anyone who has planted trees to declare it and earn a certificate from the Mangaluru City Corporation," said Prof Smitha Hegde. She noted that many plantings may not yet have been reported or audited. The initiative was inspired by Tree Count Survey 2023, which revealed that only 6.2% of Mangaluru's public spaces are covered by greenery. Amara's long-term goal is to raise this to 30% by 2040, planting and maintaining 1.5 lakh trees across 60 wards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Beautiful Hairstyles For Women Over 30 Undo To ensure accountability, each sapling is geo-tagged and monitored for species, location, growth, and health. Native and adaptive species, including ficus, mango, jackfruit, and neem, dominate the planting list, with contributions from schools, NGOs, civic groups, and local businesses. The success of the campaign has caught the attention of Mysuru, which is set to launch its own tree count, and the Andhra Pradesh govt, which has approached the team to replicate the model, said Prof Smitha. Mangrove plantations, sponsored by Syngene CSR through Biocon Foundation and Vana Charitable Trust, are being undertaken near the Adam Kudru, Netravathi River bridge, where a valedictory ceremony of the drive will be held on Thursday. Former DC Mullai Muhilan, MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik, and former additional DC Santhosh Kumar, DCF Antony Mariyapa and RFO Rajesh have contributed towards the drive's success. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
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.
