89% of green cover in Bengaluru has been destroyed: IISC study

Even as the state government was mulling over cutting down 800 trees in Bengaluru for its infamous steel flyover, a shocking study by the Indian Institute of Science has revealed that the Garden City has lost has lost 89% of its green cover in the last four decades. 

The IISc study also revealed that the man-tree ratio in Bengaluru has come down drastically to 1 tree for 7 people. While technically it should be 1 tree per person.

IISc's Energy and Wetlands Research Group (ENVIS) study titled - Trees of Bengaluru - was undertaken in association with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to plan better urban forestry which is on decline.

The rapid urbanisation has led to a drastic loss in green cover and water levels.

"Trees were a casualty in the unplanned urbanisation that followed. Many lakes and tanks encroached upon and converted to concrete jungles while some became dump yards," said  T V Ramachandra, co-ordinator, Trees of Bengaluru study and professor at IISs.

Through Indian remote sensing satellite data and field data the experts say some areas, the green canopy scarcity is acute. Shivajinagar has only 25 trees to cover 66,280 people living in the area, the heavily populated area of Chickpet has less than 100 trees and Padarayanapura, with a population of 67,623, has only 26 trees.

Nanda Kumar, Chief Environment Officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, says, the board went out of its way and supported this study. The study gives the insights of impact due to loss of lakes and trees in Bengaluru, and this will help us plan better for future.

• IISc
• Bengaluru
• trees
• Indian Institute of Science
• Bangalore