Once celebrated as India's Garden City, Bengaluru now presents a starkly different picture. The city's lush green cover, which stood at a healthy 68% in 1973, has catastrophically dwindled to a mere 2.96% by 2020. This dramatic transformation from verdant paradise to urban sprawl has sparked urgent action from environmentalists determined to reverse the trend.
The Concrete Jungle: A Stark Transformation
"From being the Garden City, Bengaluru has rapidly transformed into a concrete jungle," states Harsha Tej, an environmental activist and the founder of Green Dot, an NGO dedicated to ecological restoration. His observation underscores a five-decade-long urban crisis. Tired of witnessing the decline, Tej and his team have taken matters into their own hands. Over the past five years, they have planted an impressive more than 2.5 lakh trees in and around the metropolitan area.
Planting Hope: The Mini Forest Solution
A flagship project in this green revival is taking root in Yelahanka. Here, the Yelahanka Welfare Association has provided a two-acre plot of land. Initially intended for a conventional park, the vision expanded. "Since the land was large enough, we decided to create a mini forest," explains Harsha Tej. The team has planted over 120 indigenous species on this site, aiming to cultivate a dense, self-sustaining green ecosystem within the urban fabric.
Tej passionately underscores the critical importance of choosing native species over exotic ones. He points to the popular Tabebuia rosea trees as a problematic example. "The Tabebuia rosea trees people admire aren't native to this region. They consume high amounts of groundwater and don't support birds or bees," he clarifies. In contrast, native trees offer a multitude of ecological benefits.
Why Native Trees Are Non-Negotiable for Bengaluru
Native tree species are the cornerstone of any genuine ecological restoration effort in the city. Their advantages are clear and multifaceted:
- They support local birds, bees, and biodiversity.
- They consume significantly less groundwater.
- They help cool neighbourhoods naturally.
- They replenish soil health and local aquifers.
- They thrive in the local climate without intensive maintenance.
For residents looking to contribute, Tej suggests species like Neem, Peepal, Arjuna, Honge, and various Ficus. He advises avoiding non-native species such as Tabebuia rosea, Gulmohar, and Rain trees, which can do more harm than good to the local environment.
Reclaiming Green Glory: Every Space Counts
The vision for a greener Bengaluru is not confined to large, dedicated plots of land. Harsha Tej emphasizes that ecologically resilient spaces can be created anywhere. "Balconies, terraces or apartment gardens can also host indigenous saplings," he states. This grassroots approach is vital. If a collective sense of environmental stewardship is cultivated and citizens actively engage in green drives, Bengaluru can begin the long journey to reclaim its green glory.
The concept of a mini forest—a dense, fast-growing patch of native trees and shrubs in a small urban area—offers a scalable model. It proves that even spaces from a few hundred square feet upwards can be transformed into self-sustaining natural ecosystems. The fight for Bengaluru's environment is on, and it is being waged one native sapling at a time.
