The Centre for Environment Education’s (CEE) Hariyalu Amdavad programme has identified 75 native tree species in Gujarat and is encouraging their planting throughout the city. Hariyalu Amdavad is a citizen-led initiative for a greener Ahmedabad that is a component of the CEE’s AmdaVadmA programme.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the Gujarat Forest Department, the Gujarat Biodiversity Board, and others are all on board. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the mission in April of last year.
CEE experts had previously documented and given to the Forest Department Ahmedabad’s native tree species. Interestingly, no native tree species is extinct, but some, such as Rudraksha, Khijdo, Rukhdo, and Sindoor, are rare or endangered.
The majority of the 75 native species are large trees, with a few shrubs reaching heights of up to 12 feet. According to Tushar Jani, Senior Programme Director, Environment Management Group, CEE, most people are only familiar with native species such as Limdo, Vad, Peepal, and Asopalav.
CEE receives saplings of native species from the forest department and plants them in schools, colleges, slums, colonies, and ladies’ clubs. It also assists them in taking care of it. CEE connects large plots and industries with the forest department. So far, over 60,000 trees of 28 different species have been designated for plantation.
CEE’s efforts have resulted in native tree species on campuses such as DPS East, Shreyas, CN Vidyavihar, and colleges such as Shree KK Shastri Government College in Maninagar.
Founder- Director, CEE, Kartikeya Sarabhai said native trees have an immense role to play in maintaining biodiversity. “Climate Change can be fought by growing large trees,” he said.