The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is reviving its urban forest programme by planning tree plantations across 238 plots in Mumbai, using the Japanese Miyawaki method to increase green cover in available open and amenity spaces.
The civic body launched the initiative in 2020 and had previously developed 64 urban forest plots over a two-year period. The programme was subsequently put on hold while officials assessed additional locations suitable for plantations. Existing gardens and sites where landscaping was already established were excluded from the exercise.
A senior civic official told mid-day, “After the initial drive to develop urban forests using the Miyawaki technique, where 64 plots were developed, no additional work was done. We have now decided to restart the project and carry it out on amenity plots. On such open spaces, large forest pockets will be developed. On others, trees will be grown using the Miyawaki method on the periphery of the plot.”
238 Plots Selected After Survey
The BMC initially considered around 400 amenity plots transferred to its jurisdiction as potential sites. Of these, 338 were surveyed and assessed for suitability. Following the evaluation, the gardens department shortlisted 238 plots for the urban forest initiative.
The civic official said, “Even with these 338 plots, our planning is at present at the preliminary stage. So we are looking at a timeline extending a few months. When actual work begins, we will find out whether the Miyawaki method is useful or apt. We will carry out routine tree plantation drives as well, as the aim is to increase tree cover.”
Among the identified locations is the Belgaum Karvar Sah Samyukta Maharashtra Sangharsha Smruti Manoranjan Maidan near Bhoiwada, where around 2,000 indigenous trees are proposed across the 600-sq-ft open space. Species mentioned include ashok, bel and jackfruit.
Additional forest pockets are planned at locations including Bhakti Park and Mulund. The BMC has also floated tenders for plantation work across several wards covering Bandra, Goregaon, Malad and Andheri.
Why Miyawaki?
The Miyawaki technique allows a high density of trees to be planted in relatively small areas. The method is designed to accelerate growth and create dense vegetation, with around three to four saplings planted per square metre. According to the civic body, the forest generally becomes self-sustaining after the initial two to three years of maintenance.
The technique has already been used at locations such as Step Garden in Lokhandwala, Kandivli East, Goraswadi Maidan in Kandivli West and Parekh Nagar in Kandivli West.
The expanded initiative reflects BMC’s effort to make greater use of underutilised urban plots while increasing Mumbai’s tree cover through compact, locally adapted green spaces.
Source: Mid-day
