The Wagh Bakri Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, has begun work on a Miyawaki forest with 5,000+ trees at an AUDA plot in Godhavi-Manipur, reiterating its commitment to environmental sustainability and urban afforestation.
As part of the Wagh Bakri Foundation’s second plantation initiative, being undertaken in collaboration with Catch Foundation, sapling plantation was undertaken at the site on Monday. The green space will be named Shri Narandas Desai Upvan in honour of Wagh Bakri Group’s founder, Narandas Desai.
The second plantation ceremony was attended by senior leaders of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, including Vice Chairman and Managing Director Rasesh Desai, Executive Director Paras Desai, Directors Priyam Parikh and Vidisha Desai, and CEO Sanjay Singal, along with members of the management team. The dignitaries participated in the ceremonial planting of saplings, formally marking the start of the project.
The initiative aims to create a dense, fast-growing urban forest using the Miyawaki method, which is recognised globally for its ability to restore ecological balance in urban settings. Once mature, the forest is expected to enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce local temperatures, and support groundwater recharge. It is designed to develop into a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem that will benefit the community for decades to come.
Commenting on the project, Executive Director Paras Desai of Wagh Bakri Tea Group, said, “The creation of this Miyawaki forest is a tribute to Shri Narandas Desai’s enduring legacy. It reflects our commitment to strengthening urban biodiversity and supporting future generations with cleaner, greener environments.”
The project is part of Wagh Bakri Foundation’s CSR initiatives for 2025–26 and builds on the Foundation’s ongoing partnership with Catch Foundation, which successfully developed Shri Pankajbhai Upvan in Gandhinagar in 2023.