On May 30, the Uttar Pradesh government told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it will cut 33,776 mature trees and 78,946 plants along the Upper Ganga Canal to construct a 111-kilometre road for Kanwar pilgrims. 

The road will stretch from Purkazi in Muzaffarnagar, via Sardhana and Jani in Meerut, to Muradnagar in Ghaziabad and impact multiple rural, forest, and urban areas. The news comes at a time when many parts of northern and northwestern India, including Uttar Pradesh, are experiencing extremely high temperatures due to the ongoing heatwave. 

According to an estimate, at least 13 people have died due to the heatwave in Uttar Pradesh as of May 31.

In 2020, Bengaluru saw massive protests and demonstrations when the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited declared that it will cut over 8,200 trees for road widening, construction of new bridges and elevated roads. Despite protests, the Supreme Court in 2021 allowed the widening of roads under the Char Dham project which would involve cutting 56,000 trees.

Similar mass tree felling in urban areas with instant clearances have happened from time to time. Take recent instances when such felling was allowed - for the construction of the new Parliament building or inside the dense forests of Aarey in Mumbai. These were permitted either due to weak forest laws, or the stance taken by the NGT or at times taken by law courts. 

Urban areas and its peripheries tend to witness most of these instances and as a result, end up facing the brunt due to the density of population and infrastructure. And it is not just about temperature. Bengaluru running out of water is very much linked with its disappearing tree cover along with its lakes.

Currently, the tree cover varies significantly across Indian cities, with Gandhinagar having the highest at 53.39 per cent and Hyderabad and Ahmedabad having the lowest at 5 per cent and 4.6 per cent, respectively. Delhi and Vadodara have moderate tree cover at 20 per cent and 18.29 per cent, while Chandigarh has 14.9 per cent. The average tree cover in Nagar Palika areas of Gujarat is notably low at just 0.05 per cent, highlighting stark disparities in urban green spaces.

The Impact Of Decreasing Tree Cover

Several studies have documented that deforestation, especially in the tropics, negatively impacts rainfall, agriculture, water systems, human health, microclimates, and overall ecosystems. 

Studies show urban trees can significantly decrease temperatures and help cope with extreme events like heatwaves. Street segments with trees have lower temperatures, humidity, and pollution. Afternoon ambient air temperatures can be up to 5.6°C lower, road surface temperatures up to 27.5°C lower, and SO2 levels reduced by as much as 65 per cent.

Physical infrastructure absorbs ambient heat and slowly releases it back into the environment, raising temperatures and creating an "urban heat island effect." This effect is more severe in densely populated cities. Heat maps’ analyses from the World Economic Forum indicate that temperatures in large cities can be 1-3°C higher than in rural areas.

This is a huge number given how our temperatures are easily breaking records and crossing 50 every other week during summer.

Long-Term Challenges

India’s guidelines for conservation and management of green spaces sets permissible green spaces and creates guidelines for local, neighbourhood and regional development plans.

The National Forest Policy recommends that 33 per cent of India's geographical area should be forested. In the US, the recommended tree cover varies by zone: 42 per cent overall, 50 per cent for suburban residential zones, 29 per cent for urban residential zones, and 15 per cent for central business districts. While some states have Tree Preservation Acts to regulate the felling and protection of trees, these laws do not prescribe a minimum area required for trees or green spaces. 

Rutul Joshi, a senior associate professor at the School of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad, points out, "Hong Kong, despite its high density, has many open spaces, while Delhi has many open spaces that are not accessible to the public. In Manhattan, limited open space is all open to the public, with open spaces between buildings. In Ahmedabad, 40 per cent of public land could be utilised better. Standards should not be followed blindly; instead, physical context is critical and we should focus on practical, accessible solutions for urban green spaces."

He explained there is a need to reform building control regulations for both private and public land to address heat island issues. Developing blue-green infrastructure is crucial, with a particular focus on public and shared ownership lands. 

The Low-Hanging Fruits

While private land often receives more attention, Joshi emphasised the importance of public and private trust lands, such as those owned by universities, religious trusts, charitable trusts, and under the Hindu and Muslim Waqf codes. He noted public-owned land constitutes, on average, 40 per cent of urban areas, presenting a significant opportunity for effective heat mitigation strategies.

He highlighted the importance of focusing on public land to enhance green infrastructure. In Ahmedabad, for example, public land makes up about 44 per cent of the area. He mentioned that there is often unnecessary focus on privately owned land, but incentivising academic institutions and utilising public land can create more green spaces, providing much-needed breathing space for the city.

In her 2022 publication, Manju Menon underlines the significance of physical protection and on-the-ground surveying and mapping. She emphasises the necessity of mapping all trees, particularly those earmarked for development and construction, to prevent unaccounted disappearance. This measure is crucial to mitigate major tree clearances associated with projects such as the Parliament project or construction within Aarey.

Joshi notes development control regulations also highlight the importance of rainwater harvesting. He points out that private land, often used for commercial and mixed-use purposes, presents urban design challenges. He suggests margins and setbacks could be better utilised by combining common spaces to create larger clusters of green areas. 

According to the General Development Control Regulations (GDCR) on Common Open Space, a common 15 per cent green space is required at the plot level. However, when multiple plots are combined, this percentage increases, resulting in more substantial open spaces between plots, which is a beneficial approach.

Currently, the only allowable use for the 15 per cent green space is parking. Once these open spaces are used for parking, they lose their potential for greenery. Joshi believes that reimagining GDCR can help create new urban green spaces, particularly in emerging city areas and established brownfield sites. He adds public land should be the priority and that incentivising its use for green infrastructure is more effective than focusing on private lands.

Lastly, Joshi explains that even if accessibility and social inclusion are concerns, the first step is to identify areas where greenery can be enhanced in cities. For example, Ahmedabad's university campus has enormous open spaces but few incentives to construct green infrastructure. Instead, gigantic conventions are created. In contrast, Delhi's institutions have large green campuses.

Accessibility and inclusivity are secondary; the immediate priority should be to create green areas. For example, by enabling shared open areas between two or four plots and allowing builders to erect another level, establishment of green spaces to plant more trees can be encouraged.