Guest Column: Bengaluru home to variety of species, let's take care of them

Vijay Nishanth
Tree doctor & environmentalist

The tree census should have been done a long time ago, but it’s good that it is finally taking off. For a city like Bengaluru, which is growing and expanding rapidly, a tree census is a must as it helps in protecting trees from being cut down illegally or poisoned.

The tree census will not only be done in Bengaluru, but also in Mysuru, and will be gradually extended to other parts of the state. For now, the census in Bengaluru will begin from March 17, kicking off on a pilot basis from Jayanagar, a well planned area.

It will provide data on the trees, which will, among other things, help in replacing a tree,should it fall, with a sapling at the same place. In essence , it will help in keeping the city’s green cover in check. People will no longer be able to chop down a tree overnight and go unnoticed, as we will have a record of them.

We must remember that Bengaluru has more species of trees than Singapore. Lalbagh alone has 3000 species and it is our duty to protect them. We are fortunate to have such a variety of species in our city, but we are losing them in the name of development.

It is the duty of every citizen of Bengaluru to ensure that the trees are protected, not just in our city, but everywhere they go. They must spread awareness about the importance of trees and help in their conservation.